(1) teleology of "living education". Chen Heqin believes that the purpose of "living education" is to be a man, a China person and a modern China person, and puts forward the following requirements for "modern China people": to have a sound body; Have the ability to build; Have creative ability; Have the spirit of cooperation; Have the moral character of service.
(2) Curriculum theory of "life education". "Nature and society are living textbooks" is a general expression of Chen Heqin's "living education" curriculum theory. He pointed out that the traditional school education seriously fetters people's thoughts. Only by advocating "living education" and looking for "living teaching materials" in nature and society can children gain experience and knowledge through direct contact with nature and society and personal observation.
The organizational form of "living education" is also in line with children's activities, life and communication. Therefore, its curriculum takes the form of activity center and activity unit, that is, "five groups of activities". The curriculum theory of "life education" does not abandon books, but only emphasizes the nature and society of life that has been neglected by education, and book knowledge should be a portrayal of the real world, which can be confirmed in nature and society and can reflect children's physical and mental characteristics and life characteristics.
(3) Teaching theory of life education. "Learning by doing, learning by doing and making progress by doing" is the basic principle of "living education" teaching method. Chen Heqin put forward the teaching principle of 17 "living education" based on the principles of children's psychology and pedagogy, which enabled children to give full play to their subjectivity in learning, explore and discover knowledge with a proactive spirit, and increased their interest and efficiency in learning.
Chen Heqin also summarized the four steps of "living education" teaching, namely experimental observation, reading and thinking, creative publication and critical discussion. The four steps are the general procedures of the teaching process, and they are not mechanical or separated. It also reflects students' active learning based on "doing". "Life education" is an educational thought that has had an important influence on modern education in China. Its spirit is still not out of date, and many viewpoints are still instructive to today's educational reform.