Elementary School in Taiwan: Overview of Classes and Textbooks Used

The following is an outline of what kids in grades 1-6 study.  The numbers next to each subject indicate the number of classes per week.  A (T) next to a subject indicates that the homeroom teacher is responsible for that class.  An (S) indicates that a subject teacher is responsible for it.  For example, (T-2) means that the homeroom teacher teaches that class twice a week.

Links below indicate that I have translated (parts of) that textbook into English, or in the case of English textbooks, that I have provided a synopsis.  上 is the book for the first semester, 下 is the book for the second semester.  If 上 or 下 are absent, it means that there is no textbook for that subject.

Individual (public) schools will vary, but not by much.  The curriculum is standardized by the government, and there is very little wiggle room for individual schools.

Grade 1

Integrated Activity 綜合 (T-2) 上   下
Math 數學 (T-3) 上   下
Chinese 國語 (T-5) 上   下
"Life" 生活 (T-4) 上   下
Reading 閱讀 (T-1)
Free Period 彈性 (T-2)
PE 體育 (S-2) 上   下
Taiwanese 本土語言 (S-1) 上   下
"Living Arts" 生活美勞 (S-2) 上   下
Health 健康 (T-1) 上   下

The textbook used for "Life" and "Living Arts" is the same, as is the textbook for Health and PE.

Aboriginal and Hakka students usually opt out of the Taiwanese class in favor of their native languages.

Grade 2

Integrated Activity 綜合 (S-2) 上   下
Math 數學 (T-3) 上   下
Chinese 國語 (T-5) 上   下
"Life" 生活 (T-4) 上   下
Reading 閱讀 (T-1)
Free Period 彈性 (T-2)
PE 體育 (S-2) 上   下
Taiwanese 本土語言 (S-1) 上   下
"Living Arts" 生活美勞 (S-2) 上   下
Health 健康 (T-1) 上   下

The textbook used for "Life" and "Living Arts" is the same, as is the textbook for Health and PE.

Grade 3

國語 Chinese (T-5) 上    下
數學 Math (T-3)上   下
音樂 Music (S-1) 上   下
社會 Social Studies (S-3) 上    下
美勞 Art (S-2) 上   下
英語 English (S-2) 1, 2
彈性 Free Period (T-1)
體育 PE (S-2) 上   下
自然 (Natural) Science (S-3)上   下
生活美語 Conversational English (S-1)
電腦 Computers (S-1)
本土語言 Taiwanese (S-1)上   下
綜合 Integrated Activity (T-3)
健康 Health (S-1)上   下

The textbook used for Music and Art is the same, as is the textbook for Health and PE.

In our school, the homeroom teacher is sometimes responsible for Health class.

Conversational English is my class.  

Grade 4

國語 Chinese (T-5) 上   下
數學 Math (T-3)上   下
音樂 Music (S-1) 上   下
社會 Social Studies (S-3) 上   下
美勞 Art (S-2) 上   下
英語 English (S-2) 3, 4
彈性 Free Period (T-1)
體育 PE (S-2) 上   下
自然 (Natural) Science (S-3)上   下
生活美語 Conversational English (S-1)
電腦 Computers (S-1)
本土語言 Taiwanese (S-1)上   下
綜合 Integrated Activity (T-3)
健康 Health (S-1)上   下

The textbook used for Music and Art is the same, as is the textbook for Health and PE.

Grade 5

國語 Chinese (T-5) 上   下
數學 Math (T-4)上   下
音樂 Music (S-1) 上   下
社會 Social Studies (S-3) 上   下
美勞 Art (S-2) 上   下
英語 English (S-2) 5, 6
彈性 Free Period (T-2)
體育 PE (S-2) 上   下
自然 (Natural) Science (S-3)上   下
生活美語 Conversational English (S-1)
電腦 Computers (S-1)
本土語言 Taiwanese (S-1)上   下
綜合 Integrated Activity (T-3)
健康 Health (S-1)上   下
閱讀 Reading(T-1)

The textbook used for Music and Art is the same, as is the textbook for Health and PE.

Grade 6 

國語 Chinese (T-5) 上   下
數學 Math (T-4)上   下
音樂 Music (S-1) 上   下
社會 Social Studies (S-3) 上   下
美勞 Art (S-2) 上   下
英語 English (S-2) 7, 8
彈性 Free Period (T-2)
體育 PE (S-2) 上   下
自然 (Natural) Science (S-3)上   下
生活美語 Conversational English (S-1)
電腦 Computers (S-1)
本土語言 Taiwanese (S-1)上   下
綜合 Integrated Activity (T-3)
健康 Health (S-1)上   下
閱讀 Reading (T-1)

The textbook used for Music and Art is the same, as is the textbook for Health and PE.