Education for Sustainable Development to Nurture Sensibility and Creativity: An interdisciplinary approach based on collaboration between kateika (Japanese home economics), art, and music departments in a Japanese primary school

The objectives of the research reported in this article were to develop and evaluate an interdisciplinary primary school Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) curriculum as a collaboration among the subject areas of kateika (Japanese home economics), art, and music. In our curriculum, which focused on the improvement of 'sensibility and creativity' as embodied knowledge, the students were encouraged to use their five senses, express their feelings and ideas, and to freely explore their imaginations. Our sample consisted of 38 sixth-graders in the primary school attached to a national university. Assessment of curriculum effectiveness revealed that the students learned to think about alternatives while questioning convention, to use all five senses, and to look at things from different angles. The students were also encouraged to explore and pursue their personal interests and to develop the motivation and determination to put forth effort in order to succeed.