Philosophy for Teens (1): {17 Week Semester} I Think Therefore I Am

In this 17 week semester long class (The class meets 2x per week) the teacher will use the book Harry Stottlemeir's Discovery to explore a different democratic situation each week.The situations covered create mental engagement and thinking about thinking. Learners are not looking for answers. Learners are encouraged to engage in prolonged questioning, and perform self-initiated tests on the situations being discussed. The focus is on how to teach ourselves logic by examining the results of these tests. 
In our circle of inquiry all ideas are worthy of examination. This class is student centered. The teacher does not impose their ideas, opinions, or perceptions.  Instead the teacher facilitates the discussion, drawing out the student's ideas into our non-judgmental environment of trust and respect for one another. This method empowers the student and allows them to gain confidence in their ideas and sharing them.

Sample class:
Introductions/Warm up questions, such as: Think of something you are glad happened. Can you be happy and sad at the same time? Think a funny thought.
Discussion of the weeks story.
Round table discussion of the story of the day facilitated by the teacher.
Wrap up/Goodbye

Week 1: The Process of Inquiry, Discovery & Invention, What is thinking?, The structure of logical statements.
Week 2:  So what?, Superstitions, Stereotyping, What makes you you?
Week 3:  Thinking and thoughts, Where do thoughts come from?, The reality of thoughts, teasing, What is fairness?
Week 4:  Are thoughts real?, What is ambiguity?, Vagueness, What is interesting?
Week 5: Do we sometimes have to say and do things we do not mean? Inductive reasoning, Who should be in charge of education?, Thinking for oneself.
Week 6: Can we choose to think?, Can the mind be different from the brain?, Do only human beings have minds?
Week 7: What is culture? What does the word invention mean? What distinguishes humans from animals?
Week 8: Private thoughts, Styles of thinking, What is a value?, Why are some things called good?
Week 9: What is a symbol? What is respect?, What is a custom?, Do children have rights?
Week 10: Reasons and good reasons, Can a feeling be a reason? What is a rule? What is a generalization?
Week 11: Encouraging self respect, Understanding others, Must there be reasons for everything we do?
Week 12: Contradictions, What are gifts? What is a person?
Week 13: Does everything have a beginning?, What is a possibility?, Is there a right way to think?
Week 14: Friendships, Natural objects vs. man made objects, Having feelings and showing feelings.
Week 15: How much is too much?, What is a habit?, Causes and reasons.
Week 16: What is a hunch?, What is innocence?, Being right for the right reasons.
Week 17: Is it worthwhile to try to "figure things out"?, Frames of reference, Perspective and frames of reference.
 
The methodology of this course is based upon the teachings of Matt Lipman