Which statement best defines covert curriculum?

• A. Officially stated learning objectives
• B. Hidden elements such as attitudes and social norms learned implicitly
• C. The assessment methods used
• D. The sequence of classroom activities

Answer: (B)

Covert curriculum covers the hidden messages students pick up in school—the attitudes, expectations, and social norms conveyed through everyday interactions, routines, and the overall school climate. These lessons are learned implicitly, not through what is formally stated in lessons or objectives, but through what the environment communicates about what is valued and how people are expected to behave. The choice that describes hidden elements like attitudes and social norms learned implicitly captures this idea precisely. In contrast, officially stated learning objectives represent the overt curriculum, assessment methods relate to measuring learning, and the sequence of classroom activities concerns how instruction is organized—none of which focus on the unspoken messages that shape behavior and perspectives.