The If Odyssey draws out the philosophy that lies behind each story in Homer's
epic tale to introduce children not only to the exciting fables of Odysseus,
but also to that other great Ancient Greek tradition, philosophy. Explore with
Odysseus the value of happiness, non-existent entities, moral dilemmas, the
philosophy of prophecy, and the nature of love among many other philosophical
issues. From the author of The If Machine, this book offers stories and
session plans suitable for use across the curriculum with children aged 8-16.
Online you'll find maps of Odysseus' journey, The Words of Tiresias that
provides clues for the children as to Odysseus' progress and an Ancient Greek language
workshop with accompanying worksheets. You can use the 'Storykit' section, which
provides hints and tips on storytelling skills, to bring the tales of The
Odyssey to life and stimulate independent, critical thinking with your
class.
This splendid book by Peter Worley offers excellent material to help teachers introduce philosophical dialogue in their classes. Worley presents a good classic story, adapted to our time while remaining faithful to the original text, and suggests a multitude of activities and didactic orientations. It is one of the most useful books I've ever read.
Félix García Moriyón. Presidente of the International Council of Philosophy with children
