Naturfagemne

Naturfagemne is a term used in some Scandinavian educational contexts to denote natural science subjects or topics within the school curriculum. It is formed from naturfag, meaning natural science, and emne, meaning subject or topic, and is used to refer to the set of topics that fall under the natural sciences.

In practice, naturfagemner typically include biology, chemistry, physics, and related earth and environmental sciences. Depending on the curriculum, these may be taught as a single integrated subject (naturfag) or divided into separate emner such as biologi, kjemi og fysikk. The focus is on developing scientific literacy, inquiry skills, and the ability to design and interpret experiments, observations, and data.

Curriculum design commonly organizes naturfagemner around core concepts (for example cells, genetics, chemical reactions, energy, forces) and may incorporate cross-cutting themes like sustainability, technology, health, and environmental stewardship. Assessment usually combines written tests, laboratory work, and project-based assignments to evaluate understanding, practical competence, and investigative thinking.

Etymologically, naturfage means natural science and emne means subject or topic. The term is more typical in Norwegian and Danish educational language, where naturfag serves as the umbrella subject, and naturfagemner can refer to individual topics or subfields within that umbrella. The exact usage can vary by country and school system, but the underlying idea remains consistent: naturfagemne denotes the natural science content taught in schools.