What are the 4C's?
In Philosophy for Children we often refer to the 4C's of P4C, to support in defining the type of thinking we are trying to develop:
Caring
Collaborative
Creative
Critical
On SAPERE P4C Level 1 training courses these are introduced and explored with teaching staff and as students progress in using P4C they are encouraged to self evaluate. I remember in my early days of P4C my concerns over pupil's lack of understanding of these terms and how they are applied and developed through P4C. One question I am often asked in relation to the 4C's is:
'How do I engage the students in developing a greater understanding the 4C's?'
We (myself included) often underestimate what children are capable of, as I have done in my previous paragraph alluding to the idea that I thought pupil's wouldn't understand the 4C's. Of course as is so often the case, they completely exceed my expectations.
In a number of schools I have worked in I have had the pleasure of working with the students to evaluate what they think they have achieved through P4C linked to the 4C's. I have done this very simply by providing them with a carousel of flipchart sheets with one of the 4C words on each sheet. In groups they are invited to jot down things they have done in a P4C session linked to that C. They have then moved on in a carousel, ticking where there is agreement, adding new ones and questioning those they are unclear on or even disagree with. I have included below a couple of those examples. As you will see students are fantastic at understanding the 4C's and why they are doing P4C! As always we have much to learn from them.
