South Korea Elementary School 6th Grade Curriculum - Science

The South Korean elementary school science curriculum aims to cultivate scientific literacy, enabling students to creatively and scientifically solve problems in their daily lives. The curriculum emphasizes inquiry-based activities, fostering curiosity about natural phenomena, and developing scientific thinking and problem-solving skills. It prioritizes a comprehensive understanding of core scientific concepts and their application to real-world situations, rather than rote memorization.

Curriculum Structure

The elementary school curriculum is structured around subjects (or subject clusters) and Creative Experiential Activities. Science is taught as an integrated subject with Practical Arts in 5th and 6th grades.

Science Curriculum (2009, implemented in 2015 for 6th grade)

The 2009 science curriculum, under which the 6th grade operated, covers two main domains:

• Matter and Energy: This domain explores concepts related to temperature and heat, the effects of electricity, dissolution and solutions, various gases, the use of lenses, and combustion and extinguishment.
• Life and Earth: This domain covers weather and its impact on living things, the motion of the Earth and Moon, organisms and the environment, organisms and their impact on living things, and seasonal changes.

Instructional Approach

The curriculum emphasizes inquiry-based learning through activities such as observing, experimenting, investigating, and discussing. Both group and individual activities are encouraged to nurture scientific attitudes and communication skills, including critical thinking, openness, integrity, objectivity, and cooperation. Textbooks and experimental observation materials are used to support these inquiry-based activities.

2015 Curriculum Revision

The 2015 revised national curriculum further emphasizes key competencies like self-management, knowledge-information processing, creative thinking, aesthetic-emotional competency, communication, and civic competency. These competencies are integrated into the science curriculum through various activities and learning experiences. The 2015 revision also highlights the importance of cross-curricular themes like safety, health, character education, career education, and environmental awareness, which are incorporated into science lessons.