South Korea Elementary School Grade 1 Curriculum - Social Studies/Moral Education

The South Korean national curriculum for elementary school emphasizes moral character development, basic habits, and fundamental abilities necessary for learning and daily life. The curriculum aims to cultivate well-rounded individuals equipped for lifelong learning and responsible citizenship.

Grade 1 Curriculum (Implemented March 1, 2017)

For Grade 1 and 2, Social Studies and Moral Education are integrated into a comprehensive subject encompassing Moral Life, Inquiring Life, and Pleasant Life. This integrated approach aims to provide a holistic learning experience covering various aspects of social and personal development. The curriculum consists of subjects (or subject clusters) and Creative Experiential Activities.

Subjects (Clusters):

• Korean Language: Focuses on developing fundamental language skills, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
• Mathematics: Introduces basic mathematical concepts and problem-solving skills.
• Moral Life, Inquiring Life, and Pleasant Life (Integrated Subject): This integrated subject covers social studies and moral education, aiming to develop a well-rounded understanding of oneself, others, and the surrounding world. It emphasizes moral character development, social skills, and an inquiring mind.
• Creative Experiential Activities: Includes discretionary activities, club activities, community services, and career-related activities. For Grade 1 and 2, "Safe Life" is incorporated into Creative Experiential Activities, providing practical safety education.

Time Allocation:

The table below shows the allocated instructional hours for each subject (or subject cluster) in Grade 1 and 2. One instructional hour is equivalent to 40 minutes.

| Categories | Grades 1-2 | | ------------------------- | --------- | | Korean Language | 408 | | Mathematics | 256 | | Moral Life | 128 | | Inquiring Life | 192 | | Pleasant Life | 384 | | Subtotal | 1,408 | | Creative Experiential Activities | 204 (including 64 hours for Safe Life) | | Total Instructional Hours | 1,744 |

Curriculum Organization and Implementation Standards:

• Schools organize and implement the curriculum to foster the development of students' basic habits, abilities, and moral character through various educational activities.
• Foundational elements of each subject are taught systematically, with supplementary programs available for students requiring additional support in Korean language and mathematics.
• Schools have flexibility in adjusting instructional hours (within a 20% limit) for each subject (cluster) based on school conditions and student needs. However, instructional hours for Physical Education and Arts (Music/Art) cannot be reduced.
• Intensive course offerings can be implemented to enhance learning efficiency.
• Creative Experiential Activities are organized based on students' developmental stages and school circumstances.
• ICT education, health education, and Chinese character education are integrated into relevant subjects (clusters) and Creative Experiential Activities.