Week 2 Lesson Plans: Socrates and Big Questions
Day 1
Time: 1 hour
Objective: SWBAT explain Socrates’ main beliefs and analyze what makes him a philosopher.
Materials: Questions on paper strips, large white poster paper, possible children’s books about Socrates:
Socrates, the Greek Philosopher by Lisa Zamosky
The Life and Times of Socrates by Susan Zannos
Introduction (5 minutes)
Write the word philosophy on the board. Ask students to write a definition of what they think it might mean. Share. Explain the origin “love of wisdom.” Discuss.
Read the children’s story about Socrates (15-20 minutes).
Pair work (30 minutes)
Divide the class in pairs. Ask each pair to choose a question strip from your hand, and then to discuss it as a pair. They must devise a way to explain their answers to the class. For example, they can write a short skit, practice a speech, create an illustration and then explain it. Example: For the second question, a pair might demonstrate Socrates in the modern world, asking questions in line at the grocery store, as a person behind him becomes very annoyed.
1. Why do you think the people of Athens were so bothered by Socrates?
2. If Socrates were alive today, how do you think most people would feel about him?
3. A famous quote from Socrates is “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Explain what this quote means to you. Do you agree or disagree?
4. A famous quote from Socrates is “As for me, all I know is I know nothing.” What does Socrates mean by this statement?
Allow the groups 10-15 minutes to discuss and create. Share out to the group, asking volunteers for questions/reactions.
Theater Game: Mr. Know-It-All and Mr. Know-Nothing-At-All
Assemble two teams of three, one being Mr. Know-It-All and one being Mr. Know-Nothing-At-All. The first has to respond to questions put by the second, which should in a Socratic manner keep asking follow up questions to their first question. Questions should concern practical moral problems. Each player is only allowed to give one word of the question or answer, with the others on his/her time adding one word until the question or answer is complete. The aim is to foster in an engaging way the idea of a short give and take exchange over moral issues and bring out the Socratic way of questioning authority.
Conclusion (5-10 minutes)
In your Philosopher’s Journal, draw a sketch that sums up what you’ve learned about Socrates today. Write a few sentences about what makes Socrates a philosopher.
Socrates was sentenced to death because he loved to ask life’s big questions. Next week, we are going to discuss what those are.
Day 2
Time: 1 hour
Objective: SWBAT analyze and discuss “big questions,” SWBAT create their own big questions.
Materials: large white poster paper, markers
Intro/Model (10 minutes)
On the board, write the question: What is a lie?
Ask students to pair and share. Share out. Discuss.
Practice (30 minutes).
Some questions do not have clear answers. We learned that Socrates got into trouble for asking life’s big questions. Today, we’re going to debate some big questions of our own.
Ask students to choose a question to answer with a partner. Their answer should be a poster drawing with words and pictures explaining their view, possibly including many sides of the argument. Present to the class. Foster debate and discussion.
What makes a true friend?
Is it ever ok to be violent?
Can computers think?
Are you the same person you were five years ago?
Can another person understand your feelings?
(From Philosophy for Kids: 40 Fun Questions that Help You Wonder About Everything by David A. White)
Theater Game: Mr. Know-It-All and Mr. Know-Nothing-At-All
Brainstorm. 10 minutes.
Using a graphic organizer, ask students to create their own big questions about nature, self, relationships, identity. Share, choosing a volunteer to record answers on a poster sheet. We now have a class poster of BIG QUESTIONS. Let’s choose a few of these to discuss at the beginning or end of every class. Conclude by asking some questions about the importance of asking questions. Why are questions so important in one's life?