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Kotoku Shusui and the Chinese Tianyi school of heiminism and anarchism ―Started with the translation of the "Communist Manifesto"
Get PDFdepartmental bulletin pape
Map use in life environmental studies in Japanese elementary schools
Get PDFThis study aimed to analyze map use in the curriculum and textbooks of life environmental studies in Japanese elementary schools. Geography is taught in life environmental studies in the first and second grades and in social studies from the third to sixth grades in elementary schools. Life environmental studies was newly established in 1989 to replace social studies and science at the first- and second- grade levels.
During the first two years of elementary schooling, instruction on life environmental studies is provided three times a week. A single period lasts 45 minutes. The lessons in life environmental studies focus on children’s activities and direct observations inside and outside the classroom. The lessons often use illustrated maps that mark the stores, stations, bus stops, and post offices in the neighborhood.
Children use maps of the area around their schools in town exploration lessons. In these lessons, children select a few of their favorite places in their neighborhood. Children perform fieldwork and record their observations. These outdoor activities create opportunities for children to experience places. After the exploration, children share their fieldwork findings in the classroom.
School textbooks authorized by the MEXT must be used in classrooms. They are written and edited by private-sector publishers and later approved by the MEXT according to the national curriculum standards. Eight companies publish life environmental studies textbooks, only some of which contain neighborhood maps.
The National Curriculum Standard for Life Environmental Studies in Japan does not clearly indicate the importance of the use of maps in these lessons. Therefore the use of maps in these lessons depends on each school. Teachers should increase the opportunities to utilize maps and develop map skills through life environmental studies.departmental bulletin pape
