The content of "life education" is very rich, mainly including teleology, curriculum theory and teaching theory.
Considering the disadvantages of traditional education in China and the crisis of national survival faced by China at that time, Chen Heqin clearly put forward the purpose of "living education", that is, "being a man, being a China person and being a modern China person". Among them, "being a modern China person" includes five conditions: first, having a sound body; Second, we must have the ability to build; Third, we must have creative ability; Fourth, we must cooperate; Fifth, we should be willing to serve the society and the people. Obviously, these five conditions reflect the requirements of all-round development of morality, intelligence and physique. In view of the fact that traditional education regards books as the only material for school study and reading and teaching as the content of school education activities, Chen Heqin summarized "nature and society are living materials" as the curriculum theory of "living education". "Living textbook" does not deny book knowledge, but emphasizes the importance of children's experience and knowledge in contact with nature and society, and advocates combining book knowledge with children's direct experience. If you tell children about fish, let them see the real fish, observe the breathing and swimming of the fish, and even dissect the fish and study its various parts. The knowledge gained in this way is true and cordial, and it can also stimulate children's interest in learning and research spirit. With the change of course content, its organizational form has also changed. Chen Heqin believes that the curriculum form of "life education" should conform to children's activities and lifestyles, and to the way children interact with nature and social environment. Therefore, the "life education" course has changed from the traditional discipline organization mode to the form of activity center and activity unit, which specifically includes five activities, namely, children's health activities (including sports activities, personal hygiene, public health, mental health, safety education, etc. ), children's social activities (including zoos, botanical gardens, labor factories and scientific research institutions, etc. These five activities are also called "five-finger activities" because the five fingers of a human hand are connected as a whole. The basic principle of "living education" teaching theory is "learning by doing, learning by doing and making progress by doing". The principle of education is 17, and "living education" is an educational thought with absorption, transformation, innovation and China characteristics, which has had an important impact in history and still inspires the current educational reform.