Philosophy for Children - Resources

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The Philosopher’s Island - A Series of Stimulus

	Description
An Imaginary Island	This is a story which asks children to imagine they find themselves waking up on a desert island. In each session new things happen and present the children with new issues to consider. The link gives several episodes. The story can be brought alive with sounds- beginning each session with the sound of waves breaking on the beach, and props- for example a magic box which contains a blank sheet headed ‘rules for the island’.

Availability	Likely areas of Enquiry	Author	Age Group
Designed by Middleton Cheney Philosophy and adapted by Ruth Davies	What is real and how do we know? How can we live together? If we are alone, does it matter what we do? How should we allocate resources and responsibilities? Other issues will depend on the episodes you create, for example the episode given here asks children to think about discrimination.	Middleton Cheney County Primary School Philosophy Group	KS1 and above
Comments and Responses
The children loved these stories and got very involved with them. They require imagination and suspension of disbelief from the children- children who are very literal may struggle to engage with this stimulus. At the end of a term’s work using these stories, the children were asked what they had learnt ‘on the island’- We all need each other Everyone has something to offer To share To look after each other To look after the island
Additional Information and Tasks
After a few weeks, and when the children have for example drawn up some rules for the island, you may want to introduce another scenario for the children to think about. Take a look at the example below. So, you are very pleased that things are going well on the island. But one morning you come back from a swim in the sea and notice that while most people are sitting round the fire eating their breakfast, three people are sitting a little way apart and are looking miserable. You go and talk to them. ‘They said they didn’t want us to sit with them. They said blueys smell!’ ‘What do you mean blueys?- you notice that all three have blue eyes. You have brown eyes. You go and speak to the others. Why are you being so mean? They don’t smell! Oh! So you like blueys do you? Watch out or you’ll end up smelling like them! You feel very uncomfortable and don’t know what to do so you take your breakfast and eat by yourself in your shelter.Later you find that the girl in charge of the special sea shell collection won’t let the blue eyed people borrow any shells or stones. Someone discovers that a fishing net they had spent a long time making is missing. ‘I bet it was one of those blueys that stole it’ they say. That night after supper when it is time for bed, a shelter belonging to a blue eyed person has been knocked down. You invite them to come and share with you, but you notice some of the other people giving you nasty looks. You find it hard to get to sleep because all this is worrying you. What should be done?