This study aims to show that learning contracts improve students’ self-directed learning ability and prevent failure of acquiring basic knowledge in distance learning situations. Since 1st and 2nd grade primary school students often do not have self-directed learning ability, there must be some efforts to induce self-directed learning, especially in distance learning situations. Thus, a 15-week learning contract actvity was conducted for 18 2nd grade primary school students. Learning contracts, learning journals, pre-/post-questionnaires, and individual interviews were used for data collection. The results show that learning contract activities had a positive impact on self-directed distance learning for lower-grade students through their positive attitude for distance learning, and their development of their learning confidence, learning responsibilities, and meta-cognitive abilities. Lower-grade students were gradually able to participate in learning by themselves without supports of their parents. It was also found that the students had some difficulties in understanding the lessons and meeting the class schedule. With the learning contract activities, however, students became to be able to determine how to overcome these difficulties by using learning strategies which suit to their ability and situations. These findings indicate that self-directed learning ability is important, especially in distance learning situations, and therefore, efforts should be made to develop and uplift self-directed learning ability even for the lower-grade primary students.