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Humanities Department Sketchbook
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Our Sketchbook

Vision
Every student is an ambassador for Singapore.
Mission
To develop students to have a strong understanding of values which define the Singapore character & to be a global citizen.
Key Activities
In line with our school’s aim
of developing GYSS students to be leaders, thinkers and advocates, the Humanities
department provides many opportunities
for our students to become confident communicators and critical thinkers. We provide different platforms and an
enriching learning experience for our students such as the Humanities Week and
our Historical and Geographical Investigation projects. We believe that through these activities, our
students would gain substantial experience, hone their thinking skills, uncover
personal aptitude and be motivated to excel.
Humanities@Engage
Engage through ICT
The Humanities teachers engage the students in the
learning process by harnessing the use of ICT.
For example, the Lower Sec Geography teachers facilitated students’
understanding of the river system concept and its implication on humans and
environment through the use of Augmented Reality platform.Such platform allows students to interact between
the augmented reality of the river and the immediate physical environment in
the classroom. Likewise, in the teaching of Social Studies, teachers leverage
on the use of Vodcast to get students to explore societal concerns such as the
existence of Stereotyping in our society and its implication. Through this mode, students are encouraged to
voice their opinions and suggestions on how such stereotyping could be
de-bunked.
Engage thro’ Experiential Learning
In making the learning of Geography a more authentic
experience, students were given the opportunities to embark on fieldwork
studies at Singapore River, Bishan Neighbourhood and Bukit Timah Nature
Reserve. At each of these sites, students learned how to formulate and test
their hypothesis, collect data and form conclusions. They also had the
opportunity to interview residents and tourists and build on their
communication skills. Through such
experiences, students get to understand that research and
data collection requires ample time and effort as well as skills to build an
accurate and unbiased conclusion.
Our students politely engaging a tourist to do an interview survey at the Merlion park. |
Our students eagerly explaining the questions to the tourists. |
![]() 1N2 students observed and sketched the parts of the Tropical Rainforest trees for their fieldwork investigation. |
![]() The Secondary One students analysed the write up in the Bukit Timah Visitor Centre for more information on the tropical rainforest in Singapore. |
Student's Feedback

Enrich@Humanities
1) Humanities Week
The Humanities Department held its Humanities Week, which aimed to
increase students’ awareness of global and local issues, cultivate thinking
skills and develop perspective-taking through signature events held by the
department. In line with these objectives, an adapted version of WordUP was
carried out with our secondary one participants to strengthen their
geographical vocabulary and concepts.
Our secondary Two students immersed themselves in the Southeast Asian
historical board-game challenge that solidified concepts and knowledge learnt
about early Singapore history.
A key
highlight during the Humanities Week was the partnership with the Central
Provident Fund (CPF). The interactive digital activities and mini activities in
the form of case scenarios presented to Secondary Three students help in
bringing greater awareness, address students’ misconceptions and enhance their
understanding of the relevance and importance of CPF in their lives.
An epic conclusion to the Humanities Week was the Humanities Quiz entitled “We are Global citizens” where our graduating students, fuelled with the knowledge and skills attained throughout their secondary school lives, enthusiastically pitted themselves against each other by answering a series of questions across the three core subjects.
Student's Feedback

2) Humanities Overseas Learning Journey to Vietnam
The Humanities department organised a 5D4N Humanities Overseas Learning Journey to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. The objective is to provide opportunity for our students to harness important life-skills such as financial literacy, public-speaking, teamwork and ICT. It also serves to broaden students’ perspective towards how historical development shapes societal and environmental concerns today. With the application of Humanities skills and critical thinking skills of current issues facing the region and the world, students cultivate civic-mindedness and appreciation of Singapore through the encounters and interactions with the local people in Vietnam. Students journeyed through Ho Chi Minh using their Social Studies, Historical and Geographical lenses to appreciate the cultural and social aspects in the city. This trip also sees students having having the opportunity to have a school immersion programme with a local Vietnam school and do their bit for charity for a local Vietnam orphanage.
3) NUS Geography Challenge
Through participating in this challenge, students embarked on independent learning. The theme was “Singapore: The Journey of a Global City.” The theme is on Development, focusing on the local and global changes in different spheres such as social, political and economic and how it has impacted Singaporeans across the dimensions of space and time. Through this theme, we students are educated and enlightened on the development of Singapore and its standing on the global stage while encouraging them to think of opportunities and solutions for the problems that lie ahead for the nation in an ever-changing world.
Participants of the 2019 NUS Geography Challenge
Secondary 3 Geography students were engaged in a Seismic talk shared by Dr Karen Lythgoe from the Earth Observatory Singapore, NTU. The
sharing dealt with seismic hazards and possible impacts in Singapore. With her
experience in seismic data, she shared interesting facts of Singapore’s
underground seismic structure and hazard. Students learnt that Singapore may
hold valuable resource such as water and energy which can be possibly harnesses
in the future, such as may Hot Springs at Sembawang area. Some students were
eager to understand the possibility of earthquakes in Singapore and the magnitude
it may have.
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Student's Feedback
