Thunks™ are “beguilingly simple-looking questions” that make your brain go ouch. They grew out of educator and writer Ian Gilbert’s work on Philosophy for Children and have proved incredibly popular with teachers around the world as a quick and easy tool for getting children and young people’s brains to hurt. This particular set, a collaboration between Child Bereavement UK and Independent Thinking, is specifically designed to open up thinking and discussion around the topics of death, grief and bereavement. 

The only golden rule when it comes to Thunks is that there are no “right” answers; their purpose is to encourage thought, debate, argument and philosophical reflection, as well as practising speaking and listening skills. You can work on a single Thunk as an entire class, work on one each or even in smaller communities of enquiry. You might also use them as lesson starters and build whole lessons around a single Thunk. Teachers have used them in many, many ways with children of all ages and academic backgrounds. 

Download the Thunks PDF

For more guidance for education professionals, see our information, support and guidance for professionals working within the education sector.