HPSD is committed to helping students develop a life-long interest in learning Science through a standards-based curriculum that includes inquiry, investigation and experimentation.

Our new revamped page also serves as a useful interactive base from where you have access to all information related to Science.

Our Goals

It is important to our department that students develop an understanding of how science impacts their daily lives.

HPSD’s 3 main goals are as follows

All students are developed cognitively to their best potential
Harness the use of ICT in Teaching and Learning
Highly competent Science Teachers who are responsive and motivated to prepare students for the future.

Pedagogy

The Science curriculum at HPSD adopts the pedagogy of inquiry-based learning (IBL) in the teaching of Science. The premise is that students should participate actively in learning. Active learning through inquiry takes place when students

Take ownership of the initial question
Conduct individual experimentation
Strive for the outcome they want to see
Be able to access the needed information easily by knowing what it is that they are looking for
Be able to communicate their learning with other students through speaking and writing

Through active learning, students learn better, as their questions help them comprehend and synthesize knowledge.

With the above mentioned as guiding principles, HPPS capitalises on the following strategies to ensure that IBL is carried out holistically.

Questioning – In our day-to-day teaching of inquiry-based Science, our teachers focus on asking questions as well as encouraging students to ask relevant questions. Questioning strategy allows for a high degree of pupil participation as a good mix of low and high level cognitive questions are used.

Self-Directed Learning (SDL) - SDL establishes the teaching and learning conditions targeted to meet the needs of the students. Here, students take initiatives, set their own goals for learning and follow personal instructional and planning strategies.

Cooperative Learning (CoL) - CoL is a well-researched instructional strategy that has been reported to be highly successful in the classroom. It provides students with the tools to effectively work in a collaborative environment.

Inquiry-based Learning

Inquiry-based learning is a student-centered learning process based on John Dewey’s learning theory of constructivism. Our approach to the learning of Science at HPPS is as follows:

Constructivist approach to concept development – using hands-on activities to develop concepts as students make connections with their surroundings.

Inquiry-based activities in and out of the classroom that brings our students through creative problem solving, decision-making and investigation processes.

Providing opportunities to apply concepts in varied contexts through authentic outdoor learning, use of ICT, self-directed as well as collaborative learning experiences

Learning experiences provided also aim to inculcate the following ethics and attitudes in our students. These skills, ethics and attitudes are in line with the 21st Century Competencies, such as Civic Literacy, Global Awareness and Cross-cultural Skills, Critical and Inventive Thinking, and Information and Communication Skills in order to realize our vision of seeing our students growing up to become confident people, self-directed learners, concerned citizens, and active contributors to the nation.

Curiosity in exploring the environment and questioning
Creativity in solving problems
Demonstrating integrity in handling and communicating information
Being objective in data search and compilation to validate observations
Keeping an open and inquiring mind
Persevering till a solution is obtained
Showing care and concern for the environment

Programmes

Primary 1 and 2

Junior Science

Primary 3

Variables Package
Every Child a Seed Programme
Learning Journey - Singapore Botanical Gardens and Zoo

Primary 4

YI Day
Learning Journey - Singapore Botanical Garden
Enrichment Lessons at Singapore Science Centre

Primary 5

YI Day
Enrichment Lessons at Singapore Science Centre (DNA Lab)

Primary 6

Learning Journey - Sungei Buloh

For All Students

Junior Science

This programme is mainly integrated into the teaching of English in Primary 1 and Primary 2. However, there are selected stand-alone hands-on activities conducted by our Science teachers for Primary 1 and Primary 2 students once per semester.

The Junior Science programme taps on the natural curiosity of the Primary 1 and 2 students, to further develop their Science skills and concepts.

Variables Package

The Variables lesson package is an enrichment lesson for all Primary 3 students that was developed to teach basic process skills related to Science investigation.

The features of Variables Package include the following:

Use of stories to teach variables and fair experiment
Explicit teaching of how to carry out simple experiments
Followed by introduction of terms such as aim, hypothesis, variables and conclusion.
Hands-on activities related to simple investigation such as the bouncing ball activity for students to do in groups
Students are assessed using a set of performance-based rubrics

Young Investigators' Day (YI Day)

Inquiry-based learning is greatly enhanced by the YIP programme introduced in Primary 4 and Primary 5. It is conducted yearly over a period of five weeks. Variables Lessons done in Primary 3 prepares the students for this YI Programme.

A YI resource package, consisting of proposal forms and roles & responsibilities is made available for teachers to refer to and use with their students. This helps to hone leadership and collaborative skills amongst the students. The project helps students to learn and practise critical thinking, inquiry and investigative skills. It helps to foster imagination and creative thought. They learn to work with others as a team, learn discipline in project management and organisational skills. These are essential skills that students need to develop to succeed in life.

Learning Journey

Science learning in HPPS is not bound by the walls of the classroom. Learning trips are conducted to enrich their learning experience in Science.

Nature Trips

These trips are led by experienced guides who have specialized field knowledge. Some venues of walks are the Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve and the Singapore Botanical Gardens. During the walk, our students get to see what they have been reading in their books and interact actively with nature. The greatest take-away for our students is to be able to share the passion for nature that the guides have. Through that, they develop greater respect and care for the natural resources that we often take for granted.

Lessons at the Zoo and Science Centre

As an extension to classroom experiences, students from various classes also attend lessons offered by these organizations that are targeted at specific topics covered in the syllabus.

Excellence 2000 – Primary 4 to Primary 6

To engage High Progress learners (from mainstream) in scientific investigations involving more advanced Science concepts. They foster independence in scientific inquiry in students as well as other important 21st Century Competencies such as resilience & resourcefulness, critical & inventive thinking, & effective communication skills. Lessons covered are either based on Physical or Life Sciences.

Phyzwurx Programme

The Phyzwurx Science programme comprises of enrichment lessons expose students to challenging physical Science activities, stretching their ability to think within the subject discipline.

The details of the 3 Modules are as follows:

Playground Science Module – to explore the Physical Science principles and concepts behind the different items commonly found in playgrounds through open investigation as well as Physical Science concepts from topics such as energy, forces and light.

Materials Science Module – explore modern day materials e.g. Ooblek, polymers, etc.

Everywhere Science Module – To further raise awareness the prevalence of physics concepts in common facilities like ramps, elevators, etc.

Junior Da Vinci Programme (NUS High)

Students showing great aptitude and passion for Science from Primary 5 are enrolled in the NUS High School Junior Da Vinci Programme.

A series of scientific and research workshops will be conducted to broaden and deepen the participants’ understanding of what is Science. After these workshops, students will work on a scientific project as a group. The project will be co-supervised by our students and our expert teachers.

The programme also helps to foster collaboration between the teachers of both schools, giving opportunities to explore other ways to nurture and develop our students’ competencies in the learning of Science especially with respect to the 21st Century competencies.

W1 Cluster YI Competition

Talented students who have carried out outstanding Science investigations during YI take part in this Competition at the cluster level.

The Competition is also supported by NUS High School of Mathematics and Science with their teachers and students setting up booths to showcase their projects. Their teachers also help HPPS in judging the YI projects submitted for this competition

SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL BLOG

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1 Holland Grove Road Singapore 278790 | Tel: 6466 3600 | Fax: 6469 1840