Featured Lesson Plan Bundle: Philosophy And The Environment
It really doesn’t take much for even a little kid to figure out that they’re connected to nature. Even in more urban settings, children are fascinated with plants and animals. They love splashing in water, playing in dirt, twirling in the wind, and watching the seasons change.
It also doesn’t take much for them to develop concerns over climate change, to feel responsibilities towards other creatures (humans and otherwise), and to want to be part of the solution.
A wonderful way into discussions about our relationship to our environment is philosophy. Finding some big questions and exploring them together can be a powerful jumping-off point, for bigger thinkers too.
Environmental philosophy ponders questions like:
Are humans part of nature, or somehow separate from it?
What do humans have in common with other creatures, or even with plants and trees?
What’s the difference between natural and not natural?
What are our responsibilities for cleaning up and protecting our natural environment?
Does our relationship with nature go beyond our planet?
Pretty cool, right? Your kid will think so too, and in chatting about questions like these they’ll gain:
A sense of both agency and connection with the natural world.
An understanding of what it means to work toward a greater good.
New skills in media literacy, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.
A sense of self, as well as community.
If you’re looking for a place to start, or ideas for activities and projects, check out our free downloadable lesson plan bundle that focuses on a kids’-eye-view of environmental philosophy. It’s usable in the classroom and at home, and it’ll help you make time and space to play with big ideas and appreciate our planet together.
Happy thinking!
