The aims and learning targets of General Studies
KS 1 KS2 Values and
2.6 Life-wide Learning Activities
Life-wide learning is a strategy that expands the learning horizon, from the classroom to other contexts. Through flexible use of diverse environmental and community resources, students can gain learning experience that is difficult to acquire in ordinary classroom settings.
When planning life-wide learning in the GS curriculum, the most important criterion is to make decisions on how the learning targets and learningobjectives of subject-based or cross-subject activities can be enhanced through co-curricular activities in order to facilitate student learning.
Schools should develop strategies to ensure that students are engaged in meaningful learning experiences that are in line with the learning targets. When planning and implementing Life-wide learning, teachers are advised to refer to Chapter 4 of Safety Handbook for General Studies for Primary Schools (2011) for the recommendations and points to note related to Life-wide learning. Website: http://www.edb.gov.hk/en/gs_
safetyguide
Curriculum Framework
Theme Module Learning elements
Growing up I am Growing Up • My changes in infancy, babyhood and childhood (e.g. height and weight, milk teeth and permanent teeth)
• Similarities and differences between boys and girls
• Knowing private parts of our body and ways of protecting them
• Accepting differences and uniqueness of our body
• Protecting our body and beware of sexual abuse
I Can Do It • Functions and ways of caring for
different parts of our body, including sensory organs (e.g. eye care), function of the spine and proper posture, personal hygiene (e.g. brushing teeth)
• Daily schedule (e.g. play, learn, eat, exercise and rest)
• Helping out at home (e.g. keeping it clean, preparing food)
• Expressing needs and feelings
Plants and Animals • Common characteristics of living things (e.g. growth, excretion, reproduction)
• Simple classification of living things (e.g. animals and plants)
• Growing environment of animals and plants and their interdependent
relationship
• Growing environment of plants Examples of Themes for GS Curriculum
Primary 1
Theme Module Learning elements Home Sweet
Home My Family • Family members
• Relatives, family names and hometowns
• Family gatherings and activities
• Roles and responsibilities in my family
• Living in harmony with family members Home Life • Characteristics and uses of common
materials (e.g. plastic, metal, glass) and home facilities
• Common technological products at home and their impact on our everyday life and health
• Energy and home safety (e.g. fires, emergency response)
• Importance of hygiene at home Going to School Our School • School environment and activities
• Roles and responsibilities of school members
• Importance of school regulations and discipline
• School facilities, technological equipment and safety
• Use of network facilities at school, and proper attitudes towards the use of information
School Life • Healthy school, including food and personal hygiene
• Going green at school, including
environmentally-friendly facilities and individual responsibilities
• Effective and ethical use of information (e.g. using the Internet)
Curriculum Framework
Theme Module Learning elements
My Life Day and Night • Characteristics of day and night, their patterns and relationship with our
everyday life
• Light and shadow
• Time management and proper use of leisure time
• Impact of online activities on work and rest
Weather and
everyday life • Seasonal activities
• Choice of clothes in different seasons
• Activities under different weather conditions (e.g. sunny, rainy) and the safety issues
Festivals and
celebrations • Stories of traditional Chinese Festivals and ancient Chinese stories
• Stories of Western festivals and festival activities in Hong Kong
• Customs of new year celebrations of children with multi-cultural backgrounds
• Making good use of money: Use of red packet money
Primary 2
Theme Module Learning elements
Growing Up Healthy Diet • Different types of food
• Importance of balanced diet
• Healthy living styles, including good eating habits
• Importance of food hygiene and the safety of processed food
• Organs of the digestive system and their functions
• Common diet-related diseases and prevention
Growth of
Animals and Plants • Growing plants—Basic needs of plants and their growth
• Taking care of small animals—Basic needs of animals and their growth
Fun to Play Making Friends • Psychological and social development in childhood
• Expression of emotions and development of empathy
• Getting to know classmates, neighbours and friends
• Appreciating the uniqueness of every individual
• Roles, rights and responsibilities of individuals in social groups
• Ways of seeking help when facing problems
Curriculum Framework
Theme Module Learning elements
Proper Use of
Leisure • Healthy activities
• Planning individual daily schedule
• Types of leisure activities, selection criteria and their influences
• Making good use of money: Use of Octopus Card
Let’s Play • Understanding forces through games (e.g. push and pull)
• Science and technology in toys (e.g.
magnetic force, motor-driven, light, sound)
• Making toys with common materials
• Traditional Chinese toys and games
• Taking good care of and sharing toys
• Impact of online games on health and living, and avoiding overindulgence Our living
Community My neighbourhood • Characteristics of the community of our home/school (e.g. history and famous places, natural landscapes)
• Environmental hygiene of our community
• Different occupations in the local community
• People who contribute to the environment and community health
• To be a responsible community member and living in harmony with others
Going to the Park • Facilities in parks and their uses
• Animals and plants in parks (e.g.
invertebrates and vertebrates, flowering and non-flowering plants)
• Caring for parks
Theme Module Learning elements Joy in Nature • Seasons suitable for outings
• Suitable places for outings (e.g. country parks, beaches)
• Outdoor safety under different weather conditions (e.g. equipment, contingency plans)
• Materials and uses of outing products (e.g. sunblock, waterproofs)
• Observing regulations and protecting the environment
My Home
Country Stories of China • Origin of the Chinese nation, the story of Yu the Great and flood control
• Qin Shi Huang and the Great Wall
• National flag, emblem, anthem and some important dates of China
• The stories of giant pandas Stories of Hong
Kong • Understanding the Han culture through Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb
• Establishment of the HKSAR
• Regional flag, emblem and the meaning of flag raising
Multi-cultures in
Hong Kong • Understanding the multi-cultural
backgrounds of Hong Kong residents and showing respect towards their traditions and customs
• Roles and responsibilities of individuals in different communities
• Showing respect to different cultures and religions (e.g. customs)
Curriculum Framework Primary 3
Theme Module Learning elements
Healthy Living Healthy Habits • Body parts and their functions, including the respiratory system, bones and
muscles
• Importance of physical exercise and rest
• Sport safety (e.g. swimming, hiking, cycling)
• Treatment of sport injuries
Green Living • Influence of natural environment on our living
• Practising green living in everyday life (e.g. treasuring food, using public transport)
• Reduce, reuse, replace and recycle
• Ways of protecting environment and saving resources (e.g. reducing use of electricity, saving water)
Community Health • Common respiratory diseases
• Transmission and prevention of communicable diseases
• Facilities for maintaining community health
• Proper use of medicine
• Impact of taking harmful substances (e.g.
cigarettes, alcohol) and drugs on health
• Good habits of personal hygiene and community health
Theme Module Learning elements Living in
Hong Kong Community
Living • Impact of community environment on the living of residents
• Goods, facilities and services in the community
• Places for exchanging goods/services in the community (e.g. shopping malls, supermarkets and wet markets)
• Factors affecting choices of goods/
services and money management
• Being a wise consumer
(e.g. understanding consumer rights and responsibilities, making sensible
consumer decision)
• Skills of managing and minimising risks in everyday life
Our Daily Needs • The living environment and housing development of Hong Kong
• Transport development and mass transit system of Hong Kong
• Road safety
• Eastern and western characteristics of everyday life in Hong Kong
• Impact of technology and inventions on our life (e.g. Thomas Edison and light bulb, Charles Kao and fiber optics)
• Ways to communicate with others
Curriculum Framework
Theme Module Learning elements
Hong Kong,
Our Home • The multi-cultural backgrounds of Hong Kong residents–figures and stories
• The origin of the Basic Law and
examples of “one country, two systems”
in everyday life
• Importance of the Basic Law in protecting our lives
• Observing law and order and being a good citizen
The Natural
Environment Love of Nature • Natural landscapes (e.g. geoparks, wetlands)
• Common animals and plants in Hong Kong
• Simple classification of animals (distinct differences and similarities, e.g. feather, hair, fins)
• Caring for and conserving the natural environment
Climate of Hong
Kong • Changes of climate and weather in Hong Kong
• Impact of weather changes on everyday life
• Weather forecasts and records
• Contingency arrangement in adverse weather conditions
Hot and Cold • Sources of heat
• Heat conduction and related phenomena (e.g. thermal conductivity of different materials, thermal expansion and
contraction)
• Safety rules in handling hot objects
Theme Module Learning elements History and
Culture Journey Sightseeing in
Hong Kong • Cultural heritage of Hong Kong (e.g.
Geopark, dragon boat races in Tai O)
• Monuments in Hong Kong (e.g. Mei Ho House, Old Tai Po Market Railway Station)
• Understanding the transportation of the Tang dynasty from Tuen Mun
Sightseeing in
China • The capital and some important cities in China (e.g. Xian)
• Conservation and inheritance of
Chinese culture (e.g. Peking man site in Zhoukoudian, Forbidden City
in Beijing and Terracotta Warriors in Xian)
• Figures and stories that have had an important impact on Chinese history (e.g. Zhang Qian and the Silk Road)
• Some interesting events or things of China (e.g. Chinese cuisine )
Curriculum Framework Primary 4
Theme Module Learning elements
My Healthy
Lifestyle Prevention of
Diseases • The human circulatory system
• Communicable and non-communicable diseases in Hong Kong (e.g. SARS, cholera, heart disease, asthma), their symptoms and prevention
• Problems and solutions related to environmental hygiene in Hong Kong
• Important medical discoveries and related figures (e.g. Fleming
and Penicillin, Tu Youyou and Chinese medicine)
• Medical services and health facilities in Hong Kong, e.g. application of Western and Chinese medicines
• Rights and responsibilities of patients The Connected
World Information
Technology • Impact of the development of science and technology on human life
• Impact of the information era on individual health
• Intellectual property rights and privacy
• Using IT properly and safely to convey information (e.g. avoiding disclosing personal information, illegal uploading/
downloading files, opening unknown files)
Making Sensible
Choices • Processing information via
communication network and social media
• Messages transmitted on media
• Impact of media on our life, including consumption, mindset and values
Theme Module Learning elements The Wonderful
World Living on the Earth • Features and changes of the surface of the Earth— distribution of oceans and continents
• Life of people and living things in different climatic regions, e.g. deserts and plains, equatorial and polar regions Light and Sound • Investigating light and sound
• The wonderful world of colours and sound
• Phenomena related to light and sound
• Protecting our eyes and ears
• Energy and energy conversion: light, sound and electricity
The story of
Electricity • Electricity and everyday life
• Investigating electricity and closed circuit
• Safety precautions in using electricity
• Saving electricity, and making good use of resources
Knowing our
homeland National
Geography • Geographical location, physical characteristics and territory of China
• Natural environment and people’s life (e.g. Huang He, Chang Jiang, Zhu Jiang)
• Recognising the characteristics of Chinese culture from cultural heritage
Curriculum Framework
Theme Module Learning elements
Hong Kong
in the past • The geographical location and the origin of the name of Hong Kong
• Understanding the history of the Song dynsaty from Sung Wong Toi
• Understanding Chinese culture from walled villages in Hong Kong
• Life and economic activities of early Hong Kong residents, (e.g. The salt fields, pearl fishing, farming and fishing) 20 th Century
Hong Kong • Development of entrepot trade
• Light industry and heavy industry in Hong Kong
• Development of financial industry
Return to China • The constitutional background of the Basic Law and “one country, two
systems”
• Protection of the Hong Kong residents under the Basic Law
• The importance of observing law and order
• The relationship between the Central Authorities and the HKSAR
Primary 5
Theme Module Learning elements
Wonders of Life Puberty • Characteristics and changes during adolescence, adulthood and late adulthood
• Individual differences in growth and development during puberty
• Physical, psychological and social changes during puberty
• Gender roles and relationships
• Sexual feelings and reactions, and ways to deal with them
Continuation
of Life • Cycles in the living world and life cycles of living things
• Biodiversity and classification of living things
• Photosynthesis
• The interdependence of living things and the environment (e.g food chain)
• Caring about endangered species Healthy Life Mental Health • Interpersonal and assertiveness skills
• Understanding our strengths and weaknesses
• Dealing with stress and frustration:
expressing emotions, academic pressure and peer pressure
• Rejecting temptations (e.g the Internet, sex)
• Healthy lifestyles: regular daily schedule, do not indulge in Internet surfing
Curriculum Framework
Theme Module Learning elements
Staying Safe
and Healthy • Dealing with unfamiliar situations and challenges
• Simple first aid and dealing with accidents
• People and organisations that provide assistance in first aid and prevent
accidents and violence
• Healthcare services in Hong Kong
• Importance of community health
• Individuals’ responsibilities in community health
Natural
Resources Energy source • Shape and structure of the Earth
• Knowing energy: Renewable energy and non-renewable energy
• Energy problems and their impacts on the environment
• Preventing pollution, and making good use of resources
Air • Characteristics of air
• Air and burning
• Air pollution problem, preventive measures and solutions
Water • Uses of water
• Investigating water
• Water pollution and purification
• Treasuring water resources
Saving Energy • Problems of energy overuse and waste reduction at source
• Government and individual responsibilities in environmental conservation
• Practising green living
Theme Module Learning elements Development in
the New Era Economy
of China • Chronological sequence of important dynasties in Chinese history
• Zheng He and the Maritime Silk Road
• Jeme Tien Yow and the railway of China
• Economic and technological development of China
• Linkage between China and other parts of the world
Economy
of Hong Kong • Factors affecting the economic development of Hong Kong
• Major and emerging industries of Hong Kong
• Trade between Hong Kong and the Mainland, and other parts of the world
• Protection to Hong Kong’s economy and culture under the Basic Law (e.g.
following the principle of keeping expenditure within the limits of revenues in drawing up HKSAR's budget, the Government of the HKSAR shall, on its own, formulate policies on culture) The Digital Era • Impact of science and technology
inventions on economic development
• Popularity of the Internet and proper attitudes towards application of technology
• Impact of IT development on society
• Processing information and expressing opinions via communication network and social media
• Temptation of advertisements
• Internet fraud
Curriculum Framework Primary 6
Theme Module Learning elements
A Glimpse of
the Universe Beyond our Earth • Rotation and revolution of the Earth
• The Sun and planets of the solar system
• Natural phenomena related to movement of the Earth and the Moon, e.g. solar and lunar eclipse
Wonders of
the Universe • Objectives of space exploration
• Space exploration and changes brought to our everyday life
• Technological development of China—
ancient astronomy and modern aerospace development
• Other countries’ contributions and achievements in space exploration Environment
and Living Energy and
Environment • The Earth as a source of resources
• Reversible changes (e.g. the three forms of water) and irreversible changes (e.g.
burning) Survival of
the Fittest • Forms and functions of living things and their adaptation to the environment
• The effects of human activities on the natural environment
• The effects of climate change on human lives
• Making good use of resources and practising green living
Theme Module Learning elements Inventions
for Better Life • Examples of force (e.g. friction, magnetic force) and related phenomena
• Application of simple machines in everyday life
• Characteristics and uses of common materials
• Scientific and technological advancements and their effects on everyday life (e.g. 3D printing)
• Solving problems through application of coding for developing computational thinking
• Safety issues and individual
responsibilities in using science and technology
Healthy Growth Embarking on the
Journey of Life • Changes in different stages of growth and development: preparation for
adolescence, adulthood and late adulthood
• Dating, love and marriage
• Related social issues: compensated dating, Internet pornography
• Time and money management
• Healthy lifestyles
Treasure Life • Functions of the nervous system
• Importance of mental health
• Organisations and activities related to promotion/maintenance of community health
• Importance of healthy diet
• Health services in Hong Kong
• Work of the World Health Organisation
Curriculum Framework
Theme Module Learning elements
Substance Abuse • Smoking, drinking and health
• Reasons for and harms of drug abuse (impact on individual, family and
society)
• Say “NO” to drug abuse, smoking and drinking
• Treatment and recovery A Century of
Change Exploring
the World • Global issues that are the common concerns of mankind (population, climate change) and their solutions
• Importance of international
communication and cooperation in solving global problems
• Incidents that affect world development (e.g. war and peace, popularity of the Internet and mobile devices)
• Impact of science and technology on society (e.g. lifestyles, communication modes)
• Impact of the information era on
individual health and society (e.g. digital divide, cyberbullying)
Reviewing the
National History • Significant events and figures in Chinese history
• Understanding the history of late Qing dynasty through the Opium Wars
• Dr. Sun Yat-sen and the Chinese Revolution of 1911
• Chinese people’s war of resistance against Japanese aggression
Japanese aggression
• Establishment of the People’s Republic of China
Theme Module Learning elements Home in
Hong Kong • Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region of China
• Relationship between the Central Authorities and the HKSAR
• Relationship between work of the HKSAR Government and district organisations, and our everyday life
• Hong Kong’s electoral system, and rights and responsibilities of Hong Kong residents
• Participation in local affairs
• Channels and ways to express opinions
• The importance of observing law and order
• Maintain harmony with members of different communities
Curriculum Framework