Age Groups: 8 and up

Key Areas in Philosophy

• Metaphysics- Theory of Reality, Theory of Identity
• Ethics and Morality

Description:

What makes us human?  Is it our minds, our bodies, or some combination of both?  What really makes us different from other animals, plants, or even machines?  This workshop leads students in an exploration of human nature, both with respect to how we see ourselves, and how we relate to others.  Issues such as environmental ethics and responsibility are introduced with an emphasis on our connection to and dependence on other humans, and our environment.

Possible Ontario Curriculum Ties (general and specific outcomes): 

1. Grade 4 Science, Understanding Life Systems

• Investigate the interdependence of plants and animals within specific habitats and communities
• Demonstrate understanding of habitats and communities and relationships among plants and animals that live in them
• Analyze positive and negative impact of human interaction with natural habitats and communities
• Describe ways in which humans are dependent on natural habitats and communities

2. Grade 6 Social Science, First Nations Peoples

• Describe the attitude to the environments of First Nations groups

3. Grade 6 Science, Understanding Life Systems

• Assess human impact on biodiversity and identify ways of preserving diversity
• Investigate characteristics of living things and classify diverse organisms according to specific characteristics
• Assess the benefits that human societies derive from biodiversity
• Identify and describe the distinguishing characteristics of different groups of plants and animals
• Describe interrelationships within a species

4. Grade 7 Science, Understanding Life Systems

• Assess the impact of human activities and technologies on the environment and evaluate ways of controlling these impacts
• Investigate interactions within the environment, and identify factors that affect the balance between different components of an ecosystem
• Demonstrate an understanding of interactions between and among biotic and abiotic elements in the environment

5. Language Arts, Grades 3-8

• Listening in order to understand and respond appropriately in a variety of situations for a variety of purposes
• Making inferences, extending understanding
• Read and demonstrate an understanding of texts
• Generate, gather and organize ideas and information
• Interactive strategies for speaking, including clarity and coherence, appropriate language
• Media literacy, especially with respect to critical analysis, making inferences, purpose and audience

 *All outcomes are as stated in the Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum documents.