Concept Stretchers
Develop concepts, explore meanings, enhance thinking
Our concept-stretcher section is full of ideas and activities submitted by our contributors to help make your p4c sessions richer in concepts and deeper in meaning.
We don’t want to repeat the same 'directions for use' every time we post a new activity so we have put many of the directions, together with the principles behind each kind of concept-stretching activity, in the key documents in the right-hand column. You should download and read the key documents before using the concept stretcher database. We hope it will also help you to create your own concept-stretchers.
The Concept Stretcher resources on this page are organised in a simple table. If you use the sub-menus in the left column, you will be able to filter the list according to the resource category. Sort any table in this section using the column headings.
| Title | Category | Author | Created |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writing poems to explore 'unfairness' A little activity to explore the concept of unfairness through having children write and discuss their own verses of poetry. Contains audio files. | Examples | Steve Williams | 09/11/2009 - 12:50 |
| The limits and scope of science Discussion plan and two exercises to explore the concept of 'science' | Questions | Rod Cunningham | 08/11/2009 - 17:15 |
| Shapes Discussion plan and exercise to explore the concept of 'shape' in Mathematics. | Questions | Rod Cunningham | 08/11/2009 - 17:09 |
| Pattern and predictions in mathematics Discussion plan and exercise to explore the concepts 'pattern' and 'prediction' in maths | Questions | Rod Cunningham | 08/11/2009 - 17:02 |
| Evidence in science. A discussion plan and exercise about the concept of evidence in science | Questions | Rod Cunningham | 08/11/2009 - 16:53 |
| Poems of delights and other things An activity to develop conceptual exploration through short poems. Short audio file of children reading poems included. | Examples | Steve Williams | 10/10/2009 - 19:38 |
| Talent & Tasks 6 powerpoint slides that encourage small and whole group inquiry. | Questions | Roger Sutcliffe | 31/08/2009 - 14:18 |
| School 6 powerpoint slides that encourage small and whole group inquiry. | Questions | Roger Sutcliffe | 31/08/2009 - 14:15 |
| Welcoming & Communicating 5 powerpoint slides that encourage small and whole group inquiry. | Questions | Roger Sutcliffe | 31/08/2009 - 14:12 |
| Groups & Belonging 6 powerpoing slides that encourage small and whole group inquiry. | Questions | Roger Sutcliffe | 31/08/2009 - 14:08 |
| Comfortable & Uncomfortable 5 powerpoint slides that encourage small and whole group inquiry. | Questions | Roger Sutcliffe | 31/08/2009 - 14:06 |
| Worry & Calm 7 powerpoint slides that encourage small and whole group inquiry. | Questions | Roger Sutcliffe | 31/08/2009 - 14:01 |
| Excitement & Self-control 9 powerpoint slides that encourage small and whole group inquiry. | Questions | Roger Sutcliffe | 31/08/2009 - 13:28 |
| Beginning 5 powerpoint slides that encourage small and whole group inquiry. | Questions | Roger Sutcliffe | 31/08/2009 - 12:13 |
| Disagreeing 3 powerpoint slides encouraging small and whole group inquiry. | Questions | Roger Sutcliffe | 10/08/2009 - 21:19 |
| Anger 7 powerpoint slides encouraging small and whole group inquiry. | Questions | Roger Sutcliffe | 10/08/2009 - 21:15 |
| Boldness & Risk 4 powerpoint slides encouraging small and whole group inquiry. | Questions | Roger Sutcliffe | 08/08/2009 - 17:51 |
| Mixed feelings 5 powerpoint slides encouraging small and whole group inquiry. | Questions | Roger Sutcliffe | 08/08/2009 - 17:46 |
| Surprise 3 powerpoint slides encouraging small and whole group inquiry. | Questions | Roger Sutcliffe | 08/08/2009 - 08:12 |
| Hope 4 powerpoint slides encouraging small and whole group inquiry. | Questions | Roger Sutcliffe | 08/08/2009 - 08:09 |
| Relaxed & Worried - concept line A powerpoint slide suggesting a concept line to stretch the concepts of feeling relaxed and being worried. | Comparisons | Roger Sutcliffe | 07/08/2009 - 22:37 |
| Relaxed and Worried 4 powerpoint slides encouraging small and whole group inquiry. | Questions | Roger Sutcliffe | 07/08/2009 - 22:32 |
| Proud & Boastful 7 powerpoint slides encouraging small and whole group inquiry. | Questions | Roger Sutcliffe | 06/08/2009 - 16:56 |
| Creating rules for dialogue A great ways to establish rules for dialogue with children -- make them a topic of inquiry. Useful suggestions and materials. | Notes and Activities | Steve Bramall | 06/03/2009 - 14:05 |
| Conceptlines A good way to explore concepts, explained with reference to the concept of freedom. This is an fuller explanation of one method of stretching concepts mentioned in the concept-stretcher key download. | Notes and Activities | Karin Murris | 15/02/2009 - 21:39 |