Table 1 Interdisciplinary learning requirements for different learning stages in National Curriculum Standards for Compulsory Education (MOE, 2022).

Grade 1–2

Apply interdisciplinary knowledge to conduct daily observations and records.

Learn mathematical knowledge and accumulate mathematical experience.

N/A

Five interdisciplinary topics are offered, such as “Little Special Forces”, “Do It Yourself”, etc.

Three interdisciplinary topics are offered: “Recognizing the Materials Around You”, “Are Plants ‘Alive’?” and “Different Seasons”.

One interdisciplinary topic is offered: Digital Device Experience.

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Grade 3–4

Apply interdisciplinary knowledge to design and participate in campus activities.

Apply interdisciplinary knowledge to address mathematical problems.

Build structured knowledge in English practical activities.

Five interdisciplinary topics are offered, such as “Heroic Youth”, “Be a Young Worker”, etc.

One interdisciplinary topic is offered: Make a Compass.

One interdisciplinary topic is offered: The Mystery of Data Coding.

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Grade 5–6

Apply interdisciplinary knowledge to jointly design activities and share their learning outcomes through multimedia.

Apply interdisciplinary knowledge to enhance mathematics application skills.

Conduct English practical activities based on real problems.

Five interdisciplinary topics are offered, such as “The Wise Little Soldier”, “The Crafty Little Craftsman”, etc.

Three interdisciplinary topics are offered: “The Movement of a Car”, “Designing and Building a Bridge” and “The Big Dipper”.

One interdisciplinary topic is offered: Small Systems Simulation.

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Grade 7–9

Apply interdisciplinary knowledge to write and share experimental reports.

Apply interdisciplinary knowledge to address real mathematical problems in project-based learning.

Conduct project-based learning around a specific English topic.

Five interdisciplinary topics are offered, such as “Loyal Guardians of the Motherland”, “Glorious Workers”, etc.

Three interdisciplinary topics are offered: “Making a New Measuring Tool for Liquid Density”, “The Nutrient Organ of Green Plants - the leaf” and “The Harm of Long-Term Mobile Phone Usages”.

One interdisciplinary topic is offered:

Connected Intelligent Design.

Three interdisciplinary topics are offered: “Physics and Daily Life”, “Physics and Engineering Practice”, and “Physics and Social Development”.

Combining chemistry’s fundamental knowledge with experimental content to conduct interdisciplinary activities.

Three interdisciplinary topics are offered: “Model Making”, “Plant Cultivation and Animal Husbandry”, and “Fermented Food Production”.

Conduct interdisciplinary activities based on geographic content.

Conduct interdisciplinary activities based on history content.