P4C & Citizenship
Citizenship Learning Overview
We introduced Philosophy for Children (P4C) in 2008 and it has had a huge impact on the children’s learning.
“In P4C children respond readily with comments and probing question. The emphasis is placed on pupils thinking and speaking for themselves at all times, but particularly through P4C sessions, enables them to make good progress in speaking and listening!”
P4C aims to encourage children to think critically, caringly, creatively and collaboratively. The children build a “community of enquiry” where the children create and enquire into their own questions. The questions raised come from a stimulus that is shared with the children. The stimulus can take the form of objects, artefacts, pictures, photographs and videos. The children can even bring in their own stimulus to share with the class.
P4C has become incredibly popular and the children enjoy their weekly P4C enquiry.
“P4C is good because there is no right or wrong”
“It is time to learn how to be independent”
“There are no boundaries, you can have unlimited answers”
“When deciding on what questions to enquire you have to work as a team”
“You learn about other people’s opinions”
The children will tell you that P4C develops the following skills:
Communication
- Confidence
- Courage
- Open Mindedness
- Independence
- Striving for improvement
- Concentration
- Thinking
- Writing
- Listening
- Deciding
- Respect
As a P4C and Citizenship Ambassador, I find great joy in exploring and sharing the fascinating world of ideas and responsibility. Philosophy allows us to dive deep into life’s big questions, encouraging us to think critically and explore various viewpoints. I love engaging in discussions about concepts like justice, fairness, and what it means to lead a meaningful life. These conversations challenge me to consider different perspectives and develop my reasoning skills.
Citizenship, on the other hand, focuses on understanding our roles and responsibilities within our community and society. I enjoy learning about how our government functions, the importance of laws, and our rights as citizens. This knowledge empowers me and my peers to be active, informed members of our community. As an ambassador, I take pride in promoting values like respect, empathy, and cooperation, encouraging my classmates to be kind, responsible citizens.
Combining philosophy and citizenship, I get to inspire my peers to think deeply and act thoughtfully. Whether we’re debating ethical dilemmas or discussing how to improve our school environment, being a P4C and Citizenship Ambassador allows me to make a positive impact, fostering a culture of thoughtful inquiry and active participation.
Mia Yates
