Big Ideas, Little Kids: A Residency Program with Thomas Wartenberg
Join us at the Prindle Institute April 1-3 for a multi-day residency program with Dr. Tom Wartenberg, Professor Emeritus at Mount Holyoke College, and creator of the Teaching Children Philosophy resource library. This exciting program will include a public film screening and conversation with Wartenberg highlighting his distinguished career bringing philosophy to young learners, as well as an interactive masterclass for teachers and practitioners interested in Philosophy for Children pedagogy. During his visit, Wartenberg will also spend some time working collaboratively with DePauw students in PHIL 209: Philosophy for Children, and will accompany them to local classroom visits at Tzouanakis Intermediate School.
Limited financial assistance for those participants traveling to Greencastle for this event is available. Awards will be made based on need and career stage (with preference to graduate and early-career practitioners). Please indicate your interest in financial assistance during registration, and feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.
April 2, 4:30PM — Documentary Screening and Discussion
On April 2 in the Prindle Auditorium, the Institute will host a public screening of PBS’s Big Ideas for Little Kids, a short documentary on Wartenberg’s contributions to the Philosophy for Children movement and methodology. The screening will be followed by a moderated conversation with Associate Director and Curator of the Teaching Children Philosophy library, Alex Richardson about the movement’s history, pedagogy, and future.
April 3, 4:30PM — Pedagogy Masterclass: Big Conversations Through Children’s Literature
On April 3, join us for an interactive workshop on exploring big ideas with K-5 students through engagement with the philosophical themes of popular children’s books. This workshop is open to K-12 educators and university-based P4C practitioners alike. Professional development credits (2.0 PGP, CEU, or comparable) are available for educator participants.
This pilot program is generously supported by a 2024-2025 project grant from the Philosophy Teaching and Learning Organization (PLATO).