Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
2.2.5
The Sixth Grade (11-12 Years Old)
History forms a major part of the Social Studies curriculum in the sixth grade.
In geography, the role of Japan in the world and the ties between Japan and other
foreign countries are emphasized. Students learn about ways of life in countries that
have economic or historical relations with Japan, such as the United States, China
and Korea.
2.3
Perspectives on Geography Education
The subject of Social Studies in Japan is rooted in curriculum that begins at large
and extends to small scale. This poses the problem that educators cannot begin to
teach world geography until the sixth grade. Even though students may have a lively
interest in learning about the cultures of foreign countries, the current curriculum
provides little opportunity for this.
Although geography is not considered an independent subject, but a branch of Social
Studies in Japan, human geography plays a more important role in the curriculum
than physical geography. Therefore, elementary school students rarely have the
opportunity to learn about physical geographical phenomena and the natural envi-
ronment, such as landform, climate, vegetation and others.
Reform efforts at the elementary school level have produced new trends in geogra-
phy education. Educators can contribute to the development of geography curricula
that are grounded in contemporary approaches by continuing to test new teaching
strategies and developing geographical skills and knowledge.
References
Nakayama M, Kimoto T, Komine I, Nishizawa T (1990) Chiri kyoiku no kaizen wo kangaeru:
1989 nendo shuki gakujutu takai simpojiumu I (The improvement of geographical education:
symposium presentation held at the academic meeting of the association of Japanese geographers,
Autumn 1989). Chirigaku hyoron (Geogr Rev Jpn) 63(Ser A)(3):166-182
Yoshida K (2008) Kodomo no asabi kodo to chikaku kankyo no hattatsu purosesu (Children's
play behavior and development process of environmental perception). Chirigaku hyoron
(Geogr Rev Jpn) 81(8):671-688
