Creative Teaching and Learning

Creating a P4C-Inspired Curriculum

Increasingly, Philosophy For Children is seen as a worthwhile activity in primary schools. But it could be much more! Gavin White puts the case for its becoming the main organising concept for re-constructing the whole primary curriculum.

It is my argument that we can learn from P4C sessions to develop a curriculum structure where child-directed learning is at the very core of all that happens. I will break down the key features of P4C sessions and demonstrate how these features can be applied to a broader curriculum structure.

‘What value do philosophy sessions have within the curriculum?’

At this point I am sure that many people who are well practised in delivering philosophy sessions to children will be raising a slightly indignant eyebrow –they may wonder how I dare question the value of philosophy. I’d like to reassure you all at this point that indeed I am on your side. I truly think that philosophy sessions are of great value within the curriculum, but I would like to go further than this: I think the whole curriculum should be based upon the principles of P4C.

Let’s change the opening question slightly:

‘What value does a philosophy session during the third lesson on a Tuesday have within the curriculum?’

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