This week’s bulletin features two questions created by students in from workshops we’ve ran in the last the week.
Does a straw have one hole, or two?
This question demands a prop – get yourself a straw from somewhere, or even better, a pack of them so pairs can inspect them for themselves, pointing out evidence to support their points. You could develop the discussion with further questions like:
- If I block one of the ends, does that make a difference?
- Does it have any holes at all? If they aren’t holes, what are they?
Mathematicians, of course, have a definitive answer (the spoilsports!), quite literally, in terms of the topological definition of a hole. But the thinking required to get there is very much the careful, “hang-on-a-minute” thinking of philosophy.
Does a bowl have a hole?
Thanks to the students at Caterham School who, as they wandered out of a workshop we had run, debated whether a bottle has a hole (an equally good question). If it did, said one, then surely a bowl had one too, which, they continued, was ridiculous! Follow up questions:
- If a bottle has a hole, but a bowl does, then where do you draw the line?
- If a bowl does have a hole, where does it stop?
Is the hole in the polo part of the polo?
Both of these questions came out of our favourite warm-up question in schools – “Is the hole in the polo part of the polo?” It always leads to plenty of debate with reasons touching on identity, branding, air, matter, taste and more. We made a bulletin out of it in 2018, however, we didn’t share some news that has since come to light, which you can introduce after a discussion has got underway…
At some point in the early noughties, Nestle began selling the “holes” of the polo, as pictured below.
- Does that change anyone’s view?
- Imagine for a moment that these really were the bits removed from the centre of the polo. Would you really be buying the holes?
- Or if not, what are you buying? The thing the hole is made of?
Thanks to Louise Chatterton, who was running the session with us, for sharing this nugget from her memory.
What’s new in the Philosoverse?
In the last week, Tom returned to St. Mark’s Primary, and Wyndham Park Infants, in Salisbury, to showcase our new approach to debating that will be launching officially at the end of this month (stay tuned!). Learn more about our training.
Tomorrow, Tom and his team at Hidden Leaders return to Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School for two days of teambonding, problem-solving and a spot of axe-throwing with their new Year 7s.
Jason has been training teachers at UWC in Thailand, through a mix of INSET, collaborative coaching meetings and workshops for students and parents.
Free P4C webinar: Monday 23rd September 2024, 6pm UK time
Don’t miss this Monday’s free webinar, brought to you in collaboration with SAPERE, this time on “Philosophy-in-Role” – how to devise simple yet dramatic narratives that immerses children into their own story-world, and making philosophical decisions in character. It will also showcase a range of resources accessible on the ever-growing P4C.com.
This was rescheduled from before the summer but registrations are still open – just click below to sign up.Â
Thinking Beans Back-to-School Sale still on
The book contains 40 sessions, plus bonus material such as a brilliant and engaging homework project in which your students become the alien observers of the peculiar things humans do and try to make sense of them! It’s a whole year’s worth of weekly philosophical enquiries.
Only for orders placed during September, Thinking Beans is on a “Two for One” offer. Just order a copy (£11.99) and we’ll send you a second one completely free of charge. A nice gift for a teaching friend as all these sessions are ready-to-run with at most a few everyday props.
If you tried to buy on Monday and couldn’t get onto our website, apologies – there was a short period of downtime, but normal order has resumed.
Best wishes,
Tom and Jason