It is essential to systematically connect school education with out-of-school education, and the educational effect varies greatly depending on how hands-on learning is planned and operated. This study aimed to derive implications for the operation of science experience learning by comparing previous studies on the cross-curricular and science subject experience learning models. To this end, four general experiential learning models, a science museum play-learning model, and a response surface methodology exploration model were examined, and commonalities and differences were extracted. As a result, experiential learning was commonly prepared, executed, and evaluated in three stages. The classification of stages was different depending on the researcher; however, the overall flow was consistent and progressing to the pre-activity, field learning, and post-activity stages. Nonetheless, it was confirmed that the cross-curricular experiential learning model did not reflect the specificity of the science subject, and the science experiential learning model did not deal with the pre- and post-activity stages in depth. Therefore, the large framework of the cross-curricular experiential learning model should be maintained to deal with pre- and post-curricular activities organically, and it seemed necessary to develop and study activity strategies reflecting the characteristics of science through research on various inquiry activities and places. Accordingly, a general science experience learning activity strategy was presented based on the free exploration class method.
The development and operation of these various science experience learning activity strategies are expected to provide students with interesting direct experience opportunities, and students will be able to conduct practical exploration with interest in science and expectations for activities.