Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Animal Rights and Welfare

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The relationship of animals and humans has been the subject of differing philosophical views for thousands of years. The controversy continues today in many aspects of contemporary life. Some people believe that a vegan lifestyle is the...
Article
Famous Scientists

Famous Scientists: Empedocles

For Students 9th - 10th
Meet Empedocles, the Greek philosopher who is best known for being the originator of the cosmogenic theory of the four Classical elements.
Primary
Lumen Learning

Lumen: Romanticism: "Self Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Students 9th - 10th
"Self-Reliance" is an essay written by American transcendentalist philosopher and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. It contains the most thorough statement of one of Emerson's recurrent themes, the need for each individual to avoid...
Primary
Blackdog Media

Classic Reader: Life Is a Dream by Pedro Calderon De La Barca

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the full text of the four-act play Life Is A Dream by Pedro Calderon de la Barca including a list of characters. It is a philosophical Spanish allegory regarding the human situation and the mystery of life.
Handout
Robert H. Sarkissian

Island of Freedom: Plotinus

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains Plotinus' philosophical development and his new reading of Plato that resulted in the quasi-religious Neoplatonism. Describes the main contours of his emanationist philosophy, focusing on the journey of the intellect to meet the...
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man of Math

For Students 9th - 10th
What's so special about Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man? With arms outstretched, the man fills the irreconcilable spaces of a circle and a square- symbolizing the Renaissance-era belief in the mutable nature of humankind. James Earle...
Article
Other

Verywell: What Is Nature Versus Nurture?

For Students 9th - 10th
An article featuring the ongoing philosophical debate over psychology's nature versus nurture. Cherry clarifies the differences between the two schools of thought and provides the changes in theory over the years.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Mysteries of Vernacular: X Ray

For Students 9th - 10th
The story of the word X-Ray is one of great thinkers. French philosopher Rene Descartes isolated the letters X, Y and Z to stand for unknowns, and centuries later, Wilhelm Rontgen discovered the X-ray, using the X for the unknown nature...
Primary
Other

A Republic, if You Can Keep It

For Students 9th - 10th
An essay by U.S. Congressional Representative Ron Paul of Texas on the state of the American republic delivered at the dawn of the twenty-first century. He argues for the strong separation of powers among the three branches of government...
Graphic
Curated OER

Biographies: Adam Smith (1723 1790)

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed a thorough study of Adam Smith and his works.
Handout
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Diogenes

For Students 9th - 10th
An extensive biography of Diogenes, his travels, and beliefs.
Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Grendel" by John Gardner

For Students 9th - 10th
Selected (6) reading passages (grades 9-11) to pair with "Grendel" by John Gardner. [Free account registration required for specific tools.]
Handout
Philosophy Pages

Philosophy Pages: Engels, Friedrich (1820 1895)

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief entry provides links and a list of recommended reading for understanding Engels (1820-1895 CE) and his work.
Website
Luminarium

Luminarium: Sir Francis Bacon

For Students 9th - 10th
Site dedicated to Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626 CE). Included are links to information about his life, his works, and famous quotes by Bacon.
Article
History of Computing Science

History of Computing Science: Blaise Pascal

For Students 9th - 10th
Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician, physicist, and religious philosopher. He built the first mechanical calculator. This lecture presents a short treatment of his life and his accomplishments.
Handout
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: General View of Comte's Postivism

For Students 9th - 10th
A general survey of the French philosopher Auguste Comte (1798-1857) who developed a secular religion known as positivism and founded modern sociology.
Handout
University of California

Ucsd: Hypatia

For Students 9th - 10th
A very brief biography of Hypatia (370-415 BCE) is given, along with an image of the famous mathematician and philosopher.
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Socrates

For Students 9th - 10th
Encyclopedia entry about the Greek philosopher Socrates. Includes information about his life, trial and death, philosophy, links to additional information, and more.
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Empedocles

For Students 9th - 10th
Encyclopedia article about the Greek philosopher Empedocles. Also contains a picture and links to additional information.
Handout
ArtLex

Art Lex: Traditional Signs

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the role of sign and signage in art. Includes a quote from philosopher Albert Camus and links to related topics.
eBook
Other

Middle Tennessee State University: Spinoza's "Ethics"

For Students 9th - 10th
Complete text of Spinoza's philosophical work. Also includes a dictionary of terms and a table of contents to the text.
Handout
Stanford University

Temporal Logic/stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the temporal logic of Arthur Prior, a type of modal logic. After technical definitions, author addresses related philosophical issues. Also summarizes applications in natural language, computer science, and artificial...
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Cornel West

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the life of Cornel West, American philosopher, scholar of African American studies, and political activist.
Handout
Other

Ancient Greek Philosophy: Democritus of Abdera

For Students 9th - 10th
A discussion of the theories of Democritus (c. 460-370 BC). He is best known as an atomist, having developed an atomic theory. Also discusses the ideas of other philosophers who are believed to have influenced Democritus.