By Staff Writer | Last Updated August 4, 2015
Co-curricular activities are activities that complement curricular activities. This includes a large range of different activities that improve a student’s performance in class. Some examples include arts, yoga and student government.
Co-curricular activities are not graded and do not directly affect a student’s marks in a class, unless the teacher offers extra credit for participation. The difference between co-curricular and extracurricular activities varies, and the separating lines are blurry since many extracurricular activities help students perform better in school. For example, community service can mirror and complement lessons in an ethics class, and athletics can help a student better understand content in a health class.
Co-curricular activities are practical, tangible learning opportunities that put what students learn into action. After school clubs, such as a computer, book or chess club, or teams, such as debate team or quiz bowl, can be co-curricular activities or extracurricular, depending on the school system. These activities happen after or apart from school hours and give the students a chance to actively pursue a different side of their in-class curriculum. Co-curricular activities can be affiliated with the school, but can also be affiliated with other institutions, such as local libraries or community centers. Interacting with others and taking a hands-on approach helps some students learn material they would otherwise be unable to grasp in the theoretical lessons during class.
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