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Humanities Department

Department Goals

  1. To instill in the students the passion for the Humanities.
  2. To develop students’ critical thinking skills.
  3. To provide students with interesting and meaningful experiences in the learning of the Humanities through the Learning Journeys, Field Work Studies and Historical /Geographical Investigations.

The subjects offered are as follow:

  1. Lower Secondary

  1. Express: History & Geography
  2. N(A): History & Geography
  3. N(T): Social Studies
  1. Upper Secondary

  1. Express: Social Studies, Elective History & Elective Geography
  2. Express: Core History and Geography
  3. N(A): Social Studies & Elective Geography
  4. N(T): Social Studies

Programmes for 2014 include:

  1. Learning Journeys
  • ABC Water Trail
  • Visit to Fort Canning and National Museum
  1. Humanities Week
  1. Field Work Studies
  • Tanjong Sedili
  • China Town
  • Bedok River



Geography Inquiry Fieldwork at Tanjung Sedili and Tanjung Balau, Johore Bahru

In the spirit of making the world our classroom, the Geography Department embarked on an inquiry approach fieldwork to Tanjung Balau and Tanjung Sedili in the east coast of Johore. This day trip focused on instilling the passion for learning Geography and developing a sense of inquiry among Secondary 3 and 4 Pure Geography students so that they can discover, make sense and apply what they have learnt in books to real life.

The students had a chance to explore and compare the natural coastal morphology of different areas and also tourism aspect of the South Johore Straits.

Also, the students were privileged to have a chance to learn from other experienced and inspiring Geography teachers from the East zone cluster schools such as Dunman High, Anglican High, Bedok North and Changkat Secondary Schools, who joined the trip to study the area and how the lessons were carried out so that they could adapt them for their own school’s trip.

Using inquiry questions such as, ‘How and why do the coastal environments differ along the South East Johore coastline?’, we investigated the first site, Tanjung Balau, which is a natural long profile beach. Here, the students did the main fieldwork skills which were, observing, sketching and annotating the profile and identifying the different part of the coast. They then proceeded to formulate a hypothesis on the area.

The teachers played a crucial role in facilitating the students at this stage. The students were encouraged to ask questions. All questions were good questions. Hence all the questions from each team were diligently documented and the teachers guided the students in categorising the questions in order to develop a hypothesis.

Some of the interesting hypotheses included, ‘The beach gets steeper as it goes inland.’ and ‘The long shore drift affects the amount of deposition on different parts of the beach.’

With these hypotheses, the students then proceeded to carry out their respective investigations and present their findings. It was interesting to note that through this authentic learning, some students did many reflections along the way and repeatedly revisited their hypothesis to alter it. This showed that there was active learning taking place in the students.

After Tanjung Balau, we proceeded to another coast, Tanjung Sedili, which was geomorphology opposite the previous coast. Tanjung Sedili is part of a cliff and wave cut platform, facing the South China Sea. The coast exposed a wide variety of rocks and minerals during low tide. The students had first-hand experience analysing the colour, texture and shape of the different type of rocks and coastal landforms This got the students excited as they were able to identify, describe and explain the features which they had seen in textbooks.

Overall, the Geography Inquiry Fieldwork in Tanjung Sedili and Tanjung Balau was a success with the active participation of the students who were very enthusiastic, inquisitive and engaged during the whole process. Geography teachers also noticed that there was a makered imporvment in students’ attitude and commitment towards the learning of the subject.

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