A qualitative study on making philosophy with primary school children: Fourth grade example

This study aims to philosophise with children and thus to reveal their cognitive levels. In accordance with this purpose, the study is significant in that it analyses the Works of children's literature and that it provides examples according to the levels of updated Bloom's taxonomy. The school included in the study group was chosen in typical sampling method. The school chosen for study group was a primary school located in Derinkuyu district of Nevşehir province. Thus, the study group was composed of 10 students who were the 4th graders in the above mentioned school. The study was conducted in the design of action research. It employs qualitative data collection methods and such methods as observations, interviews and document analysis. It was performed in 4 weeks and 20 hours. Lesson plans were made to philosophise with children and the plans prepared were implemented by the researcher with 10 fourth graders. The lesson plans were prepared on the basis of "Green Fingered Tistus"- which was chosen consenting expert opinion. 11 concepts in total containing the concepts of "names, emotions, friendship, real-imaginary, fairness, freedom, love, benevolence-evil, happiness and beauty-ugliness" were analysed from the perspective of philosophy. The data collected were put to content analysis. It was found following the philosophical activities done with children that they had begun to think at the upper stages of Bloom's taxonomy (analysing, evaluating, creating). Consequently, the analysis of the 11 concepts by philosophising with children through the works of children's literature demonstrated that children thought at the stages of analysis, evaluation and creation.