A Practical Study On Developing A School-based Curriculum Of "Closing To Animals"

School-based curriculum has become a hot topic in education reform. It is developedto meet the need for a diversified curriculum and program, which is believed, canpromote students’creativity and ability to take on challenges in21stcentury.The “Closing to Animals” was developed under a combined effect of careful study ofthe current situation, especially the students’ learning method, and support from theZoo of Guangzhou.Before the curriculum was put into practice, study showed that students had littleknowledge about animals, not to mention the awareness to protect animals. The resultof survey showed that only22.2%of the students thought that having science coursein the classroom could fulfill their needs, while most of them pointed out that therewere not enough information in the text book. So there exists a need for suchcurriculum to cover this blank. The feasibility study also exhibited a fairly optimalprediction about the curriculum. Based on these study result, the curriculum becomespossible to be developed.The major aim of this school-based curriculum development is to follow the guidanceof the new primary school program, and improve students’ knowledge, ability andattitude. After the curriculum was in effect, the study showed a fruitful result for theapplication of the curriculum, in the way that it was spoken highly of and welcomedby students. The investigation after the curriculum indicated that80%of the studentsliked that kind of curriculum very much, and all of them thought that the curriculumdid help somehow;28.9%of them thought that it helped a little; and71.1%of thempoint out that the curriculum helped them a lot in their study.The study also showed some notable achievement of the curriculum, which bringsthree-win effects in terms of improvement in learning ability of the students,professional teaching skill of the teachers and the development of the Zoo. Resultsprove that this curriculum achieves multiple goals and bring benefit to all involvedgroups. Firstly, the curriculum widened students’ knowledge about animal and environmentalso improved their scientific literacy. The t-test result of two quizzes before and afterthe curriculum showed that the difference is extremely obvious with p=0.000, whichindicated that students got much improvement in knowledge, ability and also emotionafter the curriculum.Secondly, it encouraged teachers to apply their professional knowledge to the teaching,and helped the establishment of the unique teaching feature for the school.Thirdly, it enriched the connotation of the science popularization and environmentaleducation in the Zoo. And it promoted the development of the practice base in the zoofor teenagers.Fourthly, it developed a school-based curriculum that worth to be promoted, such asreveal the mystery of bats and bright animals, which can be used in both sciencecourse for primary students and primary summer camp for students in the Zoo.