NURTURING LIFE SKILLS THROUGH INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING: A STUDY OF CLASS VI CURIOSITY SCIENCE TEXTBOOK

The 21st century demands individuals equipped not only with scientific knowledge but also with a robust set of life skills that enable them to navigate complex challenges, collaborate effectively and engage meaningfully with the world around them (UNESCO, 2015). National Education Policy 2020 also emphasizes on conceptual understanding and inquiry- based learning rather than rote learning and memorization. An inquiry-based learning which encourages questioning, exploration, and hands-on experimentation, holds the potential to cultivate essential life skills alongside scientific understanding (National Research Council, 2012). This research paper examines a newly developed science textbook named Curiosity for 6th Standard under the norms of new National Education Policy 2020. The first edition of the book has come in July 2024 under the National Council of Educational Research and Training, New Delhi.