IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CROSS-CURRICULAR THEME PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN SCHOOL EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Abstract

Extracurricular activities provide a meaningful and high-quality way for school-aged students to spend their free time, as they offer teachers additional opportunities to foster the holistic development of children and young people. Through participation, students are encouraged to become confident, independent, and creative individuals who enjoy discovering their own potential and contributing to their communities in various ways. The aim of this paper is to determine the extent to which the cross-curricular theme Personal and Social Development is implemented in extracurricular activities in primary schools. By examining documentation and conducting a content analysis of extracurricular activities included in the school curricula of 15 primary schools in Osijek-Baranja County in the Republic of Croatia, the study identified the goals and content of these activities during the 2023/2024 school year. The research results indicate an uneven representation of the domains of this cross-curricular theme in the analysed school curricula. In most schools, the most prevalent domains were Domain A (Self) and Domain C (Self and Society). These domains include the exploration of personal identity and the recognition of one’s role in society. In addition, Domain B (Self and Others), which encompasses the development of social skills and respectful relationships with others, was also observed in most schools.