Mainstream Nature-based Education through
Primary Science Teaching and Learning

Teachers only need to complete the six compulsory lessons on Forest theme to cover all key learning points for “Interactions between Living Things and the Environment (生物與自然環境的相互關係)” and “Ecosystem (生態系統)”. Depending on student ability and lesson time, teachers can incorporate elective lessons under the Ocean theme to deepen the concepts covered in compulsory lessons.

To increase nature-based learning opportunities for students, the teaching package also includes two district-based outdoor lessons to be conducted at the urban parks and countryside within the schools’ district. This enriches students’ learning experience and fosters nature connectedness while minimising administrative and transportation cost. Schools can flexibly decide whether to conduct these outdoor lessons based on their resources, administration and teaching plans.

Primary 4 Science Topics and Key Learning Areas
Covered by the Teaching Package (CHI)

Teaching Package Curriculum Mapping

• Focusing on Hong Kong’s Local Ecology: Connects abstract scientific concepts to students' daily lives using Hong Kong’s rich biodiversity as core teaching content, enhancing their sense of belonging and teaching effectiveness.
• Scaffolding: Guides students to acquire knowledge step-by-step through a structured learning sequence: exploring habitats, adaptive features, food webs and human impact.
• Diverse Learning and Teaching Strategies: Employs “student-centred” learning and teaching strategies including games, experiments, scientific investigations, and role-playing to stimulate learning motivation while developing transferable skills including communication, collaboration, and creativity.
• Implementing the “Threefold Approach” of environmental education: Students can consolidate their classroom learnings through “learning about/in/for the environment” and district-based field trips.
• Recommended Assessment Methods: Combining classroom performance, workbooks, and field trip journals to move beyond traditional question formats. Students can fully demonstrate their understanding and reflection on ecological concepts through performance assessment.
• Foster Cross-Curricular Learning: Seamlessly integrated with the Primary 4 Humanities learning theme “The Earth is My Home”, the two outdoor lessons can directly extend into project-based learning alongside cross-disciplinary teaching recommendations.
• Expert-Led Design: Led by local environmental education and ecology Scholar Dr. Xoni Ma, the teaching package was developed by the Outdoor Wildlife Learning Hong Kong team. It incorporates expert insights from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, CUHK, WWF-Hong Kong and the Ho Koon Nature Education cum Astronomical Centre. Refined through consultations with school principals and teachers, the materials are tailored to meet real-word teaching needs.