The Geography Unit consists of passionate teachers who care about the environment and society. We are dedicated to instilling in our students a sense of wonder for the natural environment and also on how we can manage the negative impacts of human activities. Our students will be knowledgeable and have a deep and profound respect for the Planet that sustains and nourishes each and every individual. We strive to provide a comprehensive and exciting curriculum for all students.
geography
Sec 2 Geography: A virtual fieldtrip with Google Earth Projects
Secondary 2 Geography: Pop quiz with mini-whiteboards!
Reflections by Sec 1 students:
What does it mean to be a Geographer?
To conclude on their first year of studying Geography, students from 1E3 and 1E4 reflected on what they have learnt thus far and how it has shaped their way of seeing the world. Check out some their amazing drawings!
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To conclude the topic on Flooding, 2N2 worked in pairs for a pop quiz where they answered using mini-whiteboards. This allowed Ms Lui to assess students' understanding of concepts such as 'permeability' and 'storm surge'. Misconceptions were then addressed immediately. Students were also challenged with questions that got progressively harder, and the top pair emerged with 10 out of 12 points!
Secondary 3 Geography: What are the factors that affect the extent of damage caused by earthquakes?
Students worked together as a pair or trio to discuss the factors that affect the extent of damage caused by earthquakes. Through this activity, students demonstrated reasoning skills to validate their point of views. Ms Candee also facilitated the discussions by asking thinking questions, prompting students to think deeper and to consider various aspects of the content knowledge to support their stand. Although Singapore does not experience earthquakes, the students learnt about examples of earthquakes through their research online.
These valuable responses from students will then be compiled for students to critique and can be used in their SA2 revision.
Students answered questions on a Google Form using an iPad!
Secondary 1 Geography: How can we save the rainforest by using less disposable chopsticks?
Students from 1E3 and 1E4 were given a challenge by Ms Lui to convince as many teachers in the school as possible to pledge to use less disposable chopsticks! This experience encouraged students to take their knowledge of the negative impacts of deforestation to the real world.
Students also provided teachers with possible alternatives to disposable chopsticks, such as bringing their own reusable metal or plastic cutlery. This would greatly reduce the demand for timber, which can contribute to reducing deforestation.
Dedicated students from 1E3 speaking to Mr Teo after their CCA ended to convince him to sign the pledge. Their persuasive arguments paid off and they got Mr Teo's signature!
1E3
1E4
Secondary 2 Geography: How are the impacts of flooding on AISS?
Students from 2E1 were given a task to investigate the possible impacts of flooding on AISS. They explored areas of the school such as the canteen, basketball court, and the school entrances. Photographs were taken and their discussion were posted onto a Padlet board where students could view their classmate's ideas!
In a Geography class on volcanoes, Mr. Vinoth used honey and water to help students better learn about how some liquids flow more easily than others (viscosity). This really helped them visualise how different types of magma and lava flow in reality. No volcanoes in Singapore, no problem!
Secondary 3 Geography: Visualising volcanoes
In Ms Lee Jia Ling's class, models of Mount Fuji and Mauna Kea were used to help students apply what they learnt about the viscosity of lava to the physical characteristics of volcanoes. Students were better able to visualise the structure of shield and stratovolcanoes as a result!
Secondary 1 Geography: Learning about leaves!
As an introduction to the topic of Tropical Rainforests, 1N1 Geography students focused on leaves! They were tasked to complete a simple sketch, and also explore the different shapes and texture of leaves. It was a great morning spent outside of the classroom!
Secondary 1 Geography: Learning with Mini-Whiteboards
Across 8 teams, 1N1 students answered a short quiz on Topographic map skills using mini-whiteboards. As compared to pen and paper assessments, this was an exciting activity that saw students running up to the projector screen in order to analyse the question and discussing with their teammates in order to come up with the correct answer. Check out how much fun the students had!
Students answering a grid reference question
Secondary 3 Geography: Revising with Chalk Talk
Chalk Talk is a classroom activity where students input their responses to a question or topic onto paper. For this Geography lessons, students from 3N1 were split into groups and used individual colours to contribute answers to a given essay question.
Using their specific pen colour, students could also comment on their groupmate's responses. This was an effective way for the teacher, Ms Candee, to identify individual students' contributions and their underlying misconceptions. It was definitely a refreshing twist to collaborative work in the classroom!
Secondary 1 Geography: Learning about Topographic Maps outside of the classroom
For a change of environment, 1E4 had their Geography lesson in the school hall where they were had to complete tasks at different stations. They worked with topographic maps, models of volcanoes, and even a measuring tape! It was definitely a change from their typical lessons in the classroom.
'Space' is an important concept in the study of Geography, and 1E4 surely got a chance to utilise the large space of the school hall for their learning! Check out the video for a look into how the lesson took place!
Mt. Fuji
Mauna Kea
For their Geography lesson, 3E2 utilised Google Documents to collaborate on the topic of "How have human activities contributed to recent climate change?" The different colours on the document represent the contributions of each group. At the end of the lesson, this document serves as a shared resource where everyone can learn from the work of their peers!
Secondary 3 Geography:
Collaborating with Google Docs
Students using their mobile devices to access Google Docs...
Secondary 1 Geography: Learning Centres
Under Ms. Lui, 1E4 embarked on a class activity where groups were tasked to visit various 'Learning Centres' around the classroom to gather information from given materials and organise them onto a handout.
The topic of the lesson was 'How can Singapore avoid water shortage?' and each Learning Centre introduced one strategy that Singapore has adopted. Through infographs, photographs, and extracts, students learnt more about how Singapore ensures that there is sufficient clean water for us.
Secondary 1 Geography: Learning through movement
Condensation!
Transpiration!
Studying Geography may mean having to learn many concepts, but acting them out using hand gestures make it so much more fun!
In a Geography lesson with 1N1, Mr. Salifian got students to stand up and act out the processes of the Hydrological Cycle. Check out how much fun the students had!
Upper Secondary Geography: Learning through mindmaps
Secondary 3
Geography:
Weather and Climate
Secondary 4
Geography:
Impacts of
Tourism
Think Geography is all about writing essays? No! Our Upper Secondary Geography students frequently incorporate the drawing of mindmaps into classroom learning and assessments.
Mindmaps are an excellent way to consolidate large chunks of information, at the same time exercising one's creativity. Give it a go and you will realise that the process is as fulfilling as the final creation!
Secondary 1 Geographical Investigation: Learning in the Field
On the 5th and 7th of March 2019, Geography learning was brought out of the classroom as Secondary 1 Geography students made a trip to Yishun Pond to investigate the water quality. Students did testing on water samples, took photographs, and even became Picasso for the day as they did a field sketch of the beautiful scenery of the pond. Check out the pictures to see how students engaged in geographical learning in the field.
Photographs as geographical data
Our young Picassos with their masterpieces!
Testing the temperature of water
When a picture speaks a thousand words in Geography class
As an introduction to the topic on Climate Change, 3E4 Geography students were asked to produce a sketch that answers the question "What do you think is happening to the Earth's climate?" Our students let their creative juices flow and look at what amazing sketches they came up with! From crying polar bears to a submerged Eiffel Tower, students envisioned what a world affected by a changing climate would be like.
Geographical Investigations 2018
Our Secondary 1E/1N conducted their Water GI at Yishun Pond.
Our Secondary 3E/3N conducted their Weather GI in AISS. Students used the weather tracker at various locations around school to identify the coolest place in AI.
Our Secondary 3E/4E conducted their Coastal GI at Sembawang Park. Here's Mr Faizal providing instructions to students on use of various instruments such as quadrats and clinometers, and the students in action.
Our Secondary 3 conducted their Tourism GI at Marina Bay Sands. They had a ton of fun interviewing the tourists.
NUS Geography Challenge 2018
Our Geography unit participated in a cluster sharing at Presbyterian High on incorporating Powerful Knowledge into lesson design. It was a meaningful session as we learned about the importance of using concepts as a way to encourage analysis and reasoning in our students.
Cluster sharing at Presbyterian High - 28 March 2018
This year, our student Jing Yun from 4E3 received the Bronze award in the individual round.
The theme for NUS GC 2018 is “A Secure Singapore: Managing Our Threats and Opportunities”.
This focus on the theme of security is inherently geographical and covers a wealth of topics (e.g. economic security, food security, climate security). The increasingly interdependent and integrated world engenders greater volume of flows – people, goods, and ideas – across national borders and this brings threats and opportunities, prompting a critical examination of the challenges and tensions faced by modern nation states in ensuring their survival and progress.
This theme straddles the human and physical spheres of Geography as it requires an examination of the dynamic interaction between people and the environment, and its effects on the well being and safety of society. Students will have the opportunity to investigate the various threats faced by Singapore as a small nation state with limited natural resources and land, while considering solutions and opportunities using a Geographical lens. This will encourage students to adopt active citizenry as they consider how they can play a greater role to contribute to Singapore.
Geography Unit Lunch @ Citrus By The Pool, 16th Oct 2017
Farewell for Geography teacher, Mrs Ang
2018 Geography Talent Development Programme (TDP) Invitation Tea by CPDD Humanities
Due to his excellent performance in the Preliminary Round (Individual Component) of the 2017 NUS Geography Challenge, Tan Yuan Xun Damien (4E4), has been invited for the 2018 Geography Talent Development Programme (TDP) Invitation Tea by CPDD Humanities, on 22nd July 2017.
The TDP is an annual programme, for selected Geography students, designed to provide opportunities for them to deepen their mastery of Geography. Participants will get to learn from subject experts, professionals from various organisations as well as each other. A team to represent Singapore at the International Geography Olympiad will also be selected from the TDP participants.
The TDP is organised by the Ministry of Education’s Geography Unit and is supported by the NUS Department of Geography, the National Institute of Education as well as partner organisations such as the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the National Library Board.
Congrats once again to Damien, and huge thanks to Geography teachers who contributed to his development and learning! :)
Using of ICT during lessons to engage learners and stimulate their thinking
We have engaged students in the learning of Geography by bringing ICT into lessons to make thinking more visible. This is evident in our Sec 3E classes where we had tried using ICT to teach the topic of Plate Tectonics.
Secondary Four GI at MBS 2017
On 21 March 2017, our Sec 3s Pure Geography and 4 Express Elective students headed out to MBS with the teachers to conduct their Geographical Investigation on Tourism in MBS.
The students had conducted numerous surveys on tourists and have thoroughly enjoyed themselves with the interactions made.
NUS Geography Challenge 2017
On 26 February 2017, Team AI emerged as one of the top 50 teams (out of approximately 130 teams) to make it to Semi-Finals in the NUS Geography Challenge. Damien Tan (4E4) has also clinched Silver for individual award.
In the Semi-Finals, teams are required to submit a project in the form of infographic as well as video, which is due end March.
Congrats on the achievement, and cheers to Mr Faizal for guiding the team throughout this entire experience! :)
We wish Team AI success as they move into the next stage of the competition!
Our 3 prize fighters!
In order to 'walk through' the slums of cities around the world, 2E4 students used their handphone to navigate places using a Google Earth Project curated by Ms. Lui. They were able to observe these environments more realistically than just viewing photos or watching videos.