Philosophy: Death
updated November 30, 2024
Recorded here is my own personal collection of articles, resources, favorite links, teaching ideas, and lesson plans. It encompasses many years, from the very beginning of my experience studying and learning about Waldorf to the present time. People from all around the world visit my site and recommend it to others. Welcome!
This site records my journey. I hope my honesty is encouraging and helps break down some barriers that may prevent people from trying Waldorf methods. Because this is an ongoing site documenting my curriculum planning and ideas, some materials are more Waldorf-y than others. Please feel free to take what you like and leave the rest.
Philosophy lesson plans
for children
WHEN to teach Philosophy is a source of great contention; I leave it up to your discretion. I am comfortable
teaching it in elementary and middle school. Others would insist high school.
Mission Statement - Consulting Services - Lending Library
Booklist: Essential Text
Little Big Minds: Sharing Philosophy with Kids
by Marietta McCarty
You will not be able to successfully teach children philosophy simply by looking at the booklist below; you will
need her book (above) for her teaching tips, discussion questions, and exercises
for
The Topic,
The Philosophers,
Nature's Way, and
At Peace.
Booklist: Resources
Marietta suggests the following:
a photograph of someone in your life who died
a picture of waterfall at Yosemite National Park
 
lots of photographs of waterfalls
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice
Shunryu Suzuki
Bhagavad-Gita: The Song of God
trans. by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood
John Donne: Holy Sonnets
"Death Be Not Proud"
Christina Rossetti: The Complete Poems
"Caterpillar"
Missing May
Cynthia Rylant
Rules of Travel (CD)
"September When It Comes"
Barber: Music of Samuel Barber (CD)
Poems, Prayers and Promises (CD)
"Around and Around"
Crooked Cucumber: The Life and Zen Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki
David Chadwick
The Velveteen Rabbit
Margery Williams
I also recommend:
The Next Place
Warren Hanson
Badger's Parting Gifts
Susan Varley
The Old Woman Who Named Things
Cynthia Rylant
Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs
Tomie dePaola
Blow Me a Kiss, Miss Lilly
Nancy White Carlstrom
The Mountains of Tibet
Mordecai Gerstein
Mr. Red Ears
Phoebe Anderson
Cry, Heart, But Never Break
Glenn Ringtved
If You Listen
Charlotte Zolotow
In my experience, students in grade 8 have many questions about Death & Dying.
It is something to consider, whether you would weave those questions into a main lesson block on the Human Body.
In the past, we've addressed those questions either in Philosophy or World Religions
(I recommend Caitlin Doughty's From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death).
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