Science Department

Department Vision

Inquiring Minds, Learning Community

Department Mission

To nurture and develop young scientists who aspire to innovate and invent in the global community.

Department Members:

Mrs. Bhavani Chandra (Level Head)
Ms Ong Puay Hoon (Science Coordinator)
Mr Chua Lee Guan
Ms Poon Sook Fong Carolyn
Mr Shazli Bin Kassim
Ms Lee Hui Shan Amanda
Mdm Julia Mohd Rahim
Mdm Neo Chew Yen
Mr Narendran (AJT)
Mr Maran (AJT)
Ms Soke Hwa (CT)
Ms Celine Ong (CT)
Mr Senthil Kumar (AED)

Our Approach

The Science Department leverages on the child’s innate curiosity and subscribes to a pupil-centred programme in which pupils build their scientific understanding and process skills through active inquiry. It encourages the pupil to explore beyond, as an inquirer – asking questions about things around him, testing his ideas and exercising the ethics and attitudes such as responsibility and perseverance. We also aim to inculcate in our pupils the love and care for nature.

Department Programmes:

SciencExperience @ FVPS

Opportunities are provided to develop skills and attitudes for scientific inquiry in our pupils

Collaborative Investigation

Pupils learn scientific concepts through hands-on activities. They engage in group work, developing positive attitudes like cooperation responsibility and use scientific process skills to investigate and test ideas.

We’ve got it…the bulb’s glowing!

Generating questions for investigation using a probe – an icy cold hand

Beyond the classroom

The teaching and learning of Science extends beyond the classroom where pupils are given opportunities to be engaged in authentic tasks.

School Eco garden as a learning hub

Pupils recording the pH of pond water in the Eco garden using a data logger

Budding Scientist Programme

The programme aims to introduce Science to our Primary 1 and 2 pupils and creates an awareness of environmental conservation, through play and exploration. The programme is structured to complement the STELLAR curriculum.

Environment Education Programme

The programme is aimed at inculcating in our young charges the love and care for nature. We have adopted a thematic approach to environment and developed our own environment education packages which are closely aligned to the Science topics at each level. The activities in these packages are driven by experiential learning, critical thinking and reflection.

Grow Green @ P3

Classes are scheduled to grow plants in the Eco garden. By caring for their plants, the school values of care, respect and responsibility, for the environment, are reinforced in our pupils. Pupils also learn how to manage the compost bins in the Eco garden and learn how matter can be recycled and used to enrich the soil. Pupils maintained a log book to record their plants growth and reflect on their experience.

Hydroponics @ P4

Apart from growing plants in a soil-less medium, pupils learn how to care for the plant, understand the influence of Technology in Science and reflect on how vertical farming is of importance in land-scarce Singapore.

Pupils having transplanted their seedlings

Kang Kong ready to be harvested

Water Conservation @ P5

Our P5 Environment Monitors developed a learning trail booklet for Sengkang Floating Wetland for primary school students. This is a collaborative effort with PUB and a few other schools. In celebration of World Water Day in 2012, these pupils will be conducting the Learning Trail at the site.

Fernvale Trail

The school will launch a wireless trail, which is uniquely Fernvale. It adds a new dimension to our pupils’ learning experience where they will become self-directed learners, exploring and extending their learning through collaboration with their peers.

Learning Journeys:

To extend the learning in Science, learning journeys are organised for our pupils.

P2 pupils observing the waxy leaves of water plant @ Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden.

Little scientists preparing a slide and viewing it under the microscope @ DNA Centre

P6 pupils feeling the salt secreted through the leaves of the Sea Holly @ Sungei Boluh Wetland Reserve

Assessment

The department adopts a variety of assessment modes to assess our pupils learning. Apart from the written examinations, pupils also take practical tests which test them on their acquisition of process skills.

Achievements

University of New South Wales Science Competition 2011

Our pupils from P3 to P6 participate in this competition. 19 of them were awarded certificates of distinction.

H20 Project 2011 -Water for All Category

A team of Primary 5 pupils designed a game titled ‘Water Conservation Tic-Tac-Toe’ which allows players to learn more about Singapore’s Four National Taps and some ways to conserve water. The team clinched the first prize in the ‘Water for All’ Category in Project

Team with Ms. Grace Fu Hai Yien, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts and Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and MP of Yuhua constituency during prize presentation.