Globalization Partnership Programme

The PETALS™ Framework comprises five dimensions of learning and teaching that contribute to engaged learning in the Singapore classroom The five dimensions of learning and teaching are used to help teachers plan student-centred and engaging lessons.

Students are engaged when teachers select pedagogy that considers students’ readiness to learn and their learning styles, design an experience of learning that stretches thinking, promotes inter-connectedness and develops independent learning.

Based on the PETAL framework, the Humanities Department embarked on the Globalization Partnership (GP) Programme. Students are brought to various countries to do field studies.

In June,students did a river and waterfall studies in the town of Kota Tinggi.

Here, students are taking measurements to calculate the average depth of the river.

Students measuring the river width as part of the measurement to calculate the river channel.

Using a ping pong ball to measure the speed of the river.

Using a data logger to calculate the Ph value of the river.

Tracking through the jungle to go to the waterfall.

























One for the blog

The teachers checking on the depth of the waterfall before allowing the students to enter.

Night lesson after the river studies

Students doing a drawing of the waterfall features.

Sample of student's worksheet.

Reflection-Based Learning

The department tried out reflection-based learning with some of the classes doing elective geography.


Students were given a problem to solve. In this case, they have to examine the consequences of unlimited deforestation of the tropical rain forest.



Students first gather information from various sources to examine the reasons why deforestation take place.


This is followed with group discussion where they try to examine the consequence that deforestation brings.



After an agreement has been made, students transfer the information into a poster to be presented in class.

Students putting on the final touch to their presentation.


Beginning of a great master piece?








At the end of the lesson, students were asked to do a reflection.

Field trip at Pulau Ubin

A field trip to Pulau Ubin was conducted for the Secondary 4 students on the 11 January 2008.







The objectives of this field trip are:
1. To expose students to the rich biodiversity in Pulau Ubin
2. To experience first hand the land constrain that Singapore has.
3. To empower students to make a contribution to the preservation of Pulau Ubin.

For example, this unique house called House No 1 was built by a Scot and has the only functional fireplace in Singapore. Yet it was nearly demolished in 2001 for land reclamation.

There are many unique species of plants in Pulau Ubin. For example, students discovered from a botanist engaged for this field trip,that nectar could be found on the veins of the sea hibiscus.


Some of us who like to eat ice kacang would often ask for more atap chee. This is the fruit from which atap chee is obtained.


Students had to climbed a seven-story high tower in order to examine the canopy of the rain forest.









The climb was fun and students were rewarded with the opportunity to come face to face with an emergent tree at the top of the tower.

The students also learn how a rubber tree is tapped.

Bridging Programme

We welcome and congratulate the sec 4 Normal students who have qualified for Secondary 5.













In order to prepare the students adequately for the tougher sec 5 O level examination syllabus, a ten weeks bridging programme has been developed and implemented for the students














Different pedagogies will be used to suit the learning style of the students without compromising on their ability to perform in the examination.
















The teachers in the humanities department have assessed the learning styles of these students and have adapted their classroom methods to best fit each student's learning style.














Most of them have kinesthetic learning style, in which learning takes place by the student when they are actually carrying out a physical activity, rather than listening to a lecture or merely watching a demonstration.



Students with this predominant learning style are natural discovery learners; they have realizations through doing, as opposed to having thought first before initiating action

2008 --- A New Begining

2008 brings about several changes in the Humanities Department.













First of all our Head of Department, Mrs. Selva has been promoted to be the Vice principal of our school. We are glad for her promotion but sad that she will no longer be around to guide us. We will miss her.





Meanwhile Ms Faridah has going for her Professional Development Leaves for ten weeks. She will be studying at risk students and see how best she can contribute to the department in this area when she returns.










We welcome a new teacher Ms Audrey Kok. She has been teaching geography in a junior college for and has decided to continue her contribution in a secondary school environment. Her experiences in the junior collage will help students in producing quality grades.


Mrs. David is our adjunct teacher who brings a wealth of experiences to the department.










The department is doing an Action Research project exploring the possibility of infusing the school CARE values into Inquiry Based Learning. The teachers will be presenting their finding at the 2008 Teacher's Conference in May.

Saving Gaia

Act Now. Save Our Planet!

Each year, the Earth’s temperature continues to rise, and our natural resources are carelessly exploited. Everyone has a responsibility to act now. We can play a part in helping the climate, preserve and care for Mother Earth.

Saving Gaia begins with each one of us. I pledge to…

• Reduce
Green tip: Reduce plastic bags – they deplete our natural resources. Bring a cloth bag instead at your next shopping trip.

• Reuse
Green tip: Reuse old envelopes by pasting an address label on or striking out the previous addressee.

• Recycle
Green tip: Collect rain water to water the plants, or laundry water to wash the floors or to flush the toilets.

Please go to this website to make your pledge. http://www.savinggaia.sg/

Learning Journeys by the Staff and Students

On the 13th of July, the Humanities Department Staff went on a learning journey to the National Museum of Singapore.



The Singapore History Museum showcases some of the most valuable displays concerning Singapore's history, from Sang Nila Utama to Sir Stamford.
It has very important information on our history as a nation. It was an eye opener for us Humanities teachers when we discovered that Raffles might not be the founder of Singapore but another person. (Hint. He is also an English man with the name William)




Here, Mrs Selva and Mrs Nathan are examining some historical artifacts from the exhibits entitled :Orgin of Street Food Culture















Meanwhile, Ms Ng and Ms Faridah are examining some historical photographs about families in Singapore.














For more imformation please visit the following website

http://www.nationalmuseum.sg/








Battlefiled Tour

Meanwhile, our students visited the The Kranji War Memorial. Dedicated to the men and women from United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Sri Lanka, India, Malaya, the Netherlands and New Zealand who died defending Singapore and Malaya against the invading Japanese forces during World War II, it comprises the War Graves, the Memorial Walls, the State Cemetery, and the Military Graves.




The War Graves are the final resting places for 4,458 Allied servicemen who died during world war 1 and 2. Over 850 of these graves are unknown. The Memorial Walls have over 24,000 names of Allied servicemen whose bodies were never found.



Towards the north end of the cemetery grounds is the State Cemetery and burial site of Inche Yusuf bin Ishak and Benjamin Henry Sheares, the first two Presidents of Singapore.

Pupils learnt more here than they ever did through books. The field trip touched both their hearts and minds.