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Explore big questions through stories and creative projects in this three-week philosophy course for elementary school students on Bryn Mawr College’s campus.
Course Description
Children are already experts at asking why. Big Questions Club gives that curiosity a place to grow through stories, puzzles, mystery objects, movement, drawing, and role-play. As students explore questions about fairness, friendship, rules, and how we know what is true, they learn to explain what they think, listen to ideas, and discover how a thoughtful question can lead somewhere unexpected.
Each day turns one big idea into something students can see and do. They might act out ways to share materials, follow instructions like a paper robot, sort clues to decide what can be known, or build a gallery around what makes something beautiful. Students can participate through speaking, drawing, acting, or building, making the course welcoming to different ways of participating.
In the final week, each student chooses a favorite question and creates a Big Questions Gallery project. A poster, comic, model, or interactive display presents two possible answers, the student’s current view, and the reasons behind it. Students also complete an illustrated Big Questions journal and share their finished work in a supportive setting.
This three-week course is part of Summer Discovery’s Institute for the Gifted program on Bryn Mawr College’s campus in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. The program is available to commuter students. Beyond class, students take part in campus activities, make new friends, and build confidence trying something new.
What Will You Do?
• Turn stories, mystery objects, and everyday choices into big questions
• Explore fairness by sharing materials and acting out different solutions
• Use clues, pictures, and playful puzzles to decide what they know and why
• Act like a paper robot to ask whether following rules is the same as thinking
• Share ideas through speaking, drawing, building, and respectful conversation
• Create a poster, comic, model, or interactive Big Questions Gallery project
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Recognize when a question may have more than one thoughtful answer
• Explain an idea using a reason, example, picture, or observation
• Listen to and compare different viewpoints during a group conversation
Students will leave with an illustrated Big Questions journal and a creative gallery project, plus stronger reasoning skills and curiosity to keep exploring.
Why Philosophy Skills Matter
Children ask big questions naturally. Philosophy gives that curiosity a structure by helping students explain what they think, give a reason, and look for examples that test an idea. These habits strengthen reading comprehension, classroom discussion, problem solving, and decision-making.
Students also practice listening carefully and restating another person’s view before responding. They learn that respectful disagreement is not about winning. It is a way to understand an idea more fully and notice how new information can help their own thinking grow.
Who Should Attend?
This course is for elementary school students who have completed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade and enjoy asking “why,” listening to stories, solving puzzles, drawing, building, or acting out choices. It is a good fit for curious talkers and quiet observers alike.
Students can share ideas through words, pictures, movement, or models. They should be ready to listen, take turns, work with classmates, and share a finished project in a supportive setting.
View the eligibility requirements for the Institute for the Gifted on our FAQ page. A completed program application is required.
Why Bryn Mawr College?
Bryn Mawr gives elementary students a welcoming place to spend the day learning, creating, and meeting new friends. Its historic, tree-lined setting near Philadelphia makes a summer class feel special and academically structured while remaining close enough for students to return home each afternoon.
The commuter-day format combines hands-on academics with a clear daily routine and shared activities throughout the program day. Students can try something new, build confidence through participation, and enjoy the fun of learning on a college campus without an overnight stay. For families, Bryn Mawr offers a thoughtful balance of creativity, academic challenge, friendship, and age-appropriate independence in a structured day-program environment.
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive