Essential reading for anyone who seeks to prepare active citizens for the twenty-first century, this long-awaited book considers Philosophical Inquiry, an empowering teaching method that can lead to significant improvements in confidence and articulacy, and produce positive effects in other school activities and in interactions in the wider world. Readers are guided through the creation of a Community of Philosophical Inquiry (CoPI) in the kindergarten, the classrooms of primary and secondary schools, the community centre and beyond, with practical ideas to make CoPI work. With examples ranging from five year old children to underachieving teenagers, and even senior citizens, the book shows how participation in a CoPI develops: the skills of reasoning, critical and creative thinking concept formation and judgment the virtues of intellectual honesty and bravery. Including chapters on the theory and development of Philosophical Inquiry, the creation of a community, and using CoPI with groups of different ages, this book forms essential reading for teachers, professionals and community workers.

Essential reading for anyone who seeks to prepare active citizens for the twenty-first century, this long-awaited book considers Philosophical Inquiry, an empowering teaching method that can lead to significant improvements in confidence and articulacy, and produce positive effects in other school activities and in interactions in the wider world.

Readers are guided through the creation of a Community of Philosophical Inquiry (CoPI) in the kindergarten, the classrooms of primary and secondary schools, the community centre and beyond, with practical ideas to make CoPI work. With examples ranging from five year old children to underachieving teenagers, and even senior citizens, the book shows how participation in a CoPI develops:

• the skills of reasoning, critical and creative thinking
• concept formation and judgment
• the virtues of intellectual honesty and bravery.

Including chapters on the theory and development of Philosophical Inquiry, the creation of a community, and using CoPI with groups of different ages, this book forms essential reading for teachers, professionals and community workers.

Laura and Paul is a story about two children who find philosophical wonderment in everyday life. Written to encourage children's critical and creative thinking, Laura and Paul is loved by children of all ages who identify with both the characters and the situations in the story. The story follows Laura and Paul at home and at school where they wonder about questions such as 'Are numbers real?', 'What is trust?', 'Is it fair to lock animals in cages?, 'What makes a picture beautiful?', 'What makes me the person I am?', 'How do we know what is true?'. The story transforms the ideas of great philosophers into recognisable situations from daily family life. Swept along by the plot twists and mysteries, the child (and adult) reader is introduced to philosophical puzzles and dilemmas which transport them effortlessly into the realm of philosophical wonder, thinking and reasoning. Enjoyed throughout the world by adults and children as young as six, 'Laura and Paul' transforms lives by showing how to find wonder, delight and mystery in what can appear to be mundane everyday life. Laura and Paul works on many different levels. Written in simple language which is accessible to young children, on the surface it is a story with mysteries and plot twists which children love. However each situation and event in the story is 'seeded' with deep philosophical puzzles and dilemmas. Some of these puzzles are easily recognised while other are embedded more deeply within the story. The book can be read simply as a story, or it can be used with groups of children as a stimulus to discussion and dialogue - as featured in the BBC documentary 'Socrates for Six year olds' where a class of six year old children can be seen having a philosophical dialogue about questions stimulated by Laura and Paul. Cover illustration by Mary Haight

Laura and Paul is a story about two children who find philosophical wonderment in everyday life. Written to encourage children's critical and creative thinking, ?Laura and Paul? is loved by children of all ages who identify with both the characters and the situations in the story. The story follows Laura and Paul at home and at school where they wonder about questions such as ?Are numbers real??, ?What is trust??, ?Is it fair to lock animals in cages?, ?What makes a picture beautiful??, ?What makes me the person I am??, ?How do we know what is true??. The story transforms the ideas of great philosophers into recognisable situations from daily family life. Swept along by the plot twists and mysteries, the child (and adult) reader is introduced to philosophical puzzles and dilemmas which transport them effortlessly into the realm of philosophical wonder, thinking and reasoning. Enjoyed throughout the world by adults and children as young as six, ?Laura and Paul? transforms lives by showing how to find wonder, delight and mystery in what can appear to be mundane everyday life.
Laura and Paul works on many different levels. Written in simple language which is accessible to young children, on the surface it is a story with mysteries and plot twists which children love. However each situation and event in the story is ?seeded? with deep philosophical puzzles and dilemmas. Some of these puzzles are easily recognised while other are embedded more deeply within the story.
The book can be read simply as a story, or it can be used with groups of children as a stimulus to discussion and dialogue - as featured in the BBC documentary ?Socrates for Six year olds? where a class of six yearold children can be seen having a philosophical dialogue about questions stimulated by Laura and Paul.