Philosophical Foundations
*This course is intended for lower elementary students
Class Schedule
9:00-9:50 am PST
August 21, August 28, September 4, September 11, September 18, September 25
Note: Classes are listed in PST, click below to convert time to your time zone.
Course Overview
A Cresconova student once defined philosophy as “what we don’t know, and science is what we know.” In this course, we will continue to seek meaning, ask questions, and collaborate with peers in discussions about what we think we know and what we still might be curious about.
This course will introduce students to foundations of philosophical thought while honing their abilities to provide strong reasoning to back up their opinions. Using a variety of sources, students will analyze clips, short stories, and more to uncover the deep philosophical questions that arise and work to refine their ideas and opinions about the topic at hand. This class will aim to stretch students' thinking and leave them with more questions than answers.
*No previous experience or background in Philosophy required for this course.
Student Outcomes:
- Practice formulating arguments and questions
- Analyze short stories and generate open-ended questions for discussions
- Gain comfortability with the unknown
Student Experience
Debater
Literary Analyst
Creative Writer
Inventor
Your Teacher: Sarah Merkt
Sarah Merkt has worked as a teacher and curriculum designer for over 12 years in gifted schools in both Asia and America. She holds her certification in Middle Childhood Education from Xavier University. Most recently, she worked for 4 years at The Nueva School in Hillsborough, CA. She is a passionate advocate for gifted students and their parents and strives to infuse best practices into her curriculum in the classroom. She currently serves as Program Manager and Learning Consultant at Cresconova.
