Science

Discover how Science is taught at FTPPS through hands-on inquiry, real-world programmes, and learning journeys that bring concepts to life.

Last updated 3 August 2026

Five students in blue uniforms work together around a table, holding and stretching yellow elastic bands.

Four boys in blue school uniforms examine a whole raw fish on a white table covered with notebooks and pencil cases.

Teaching and Learning of Science in FTPPS is done through an Inquiry approach, which involves questioning, gathering and making sense of evidence, and using it to justify answers.

In practice, a ‘5E’ approach is also used, where teachers ‘Engage’ students to determine their prior knowledge on a particular topic, ‘Explore’ the topic with students through common hands-on experiences, ‘Explain’ concepts that were observed when students were exploring, ‘Elaborate’ on these concepts and link them together, and then ‘Evaluate’ students’ understanding.

Support Lessons

These lessons (a) reinforce students’ understanding of Science concepts, (b) strengthen the links between concepts learnt in the various topics and real-world applications, and (c) provide students with practice in answering questions.

In these lessons, students receive extra opportunities for hands-on activities with Science equipment and resources, as well as skills-based revision by question type.

Three children in blue uniforms sit at a table, writing in notebooks with green leaves placed in front of them.

Stretch Lessons

These lessons aim to stretch able students by extending what they have learnt in the classroom to different situations, as well as providing them with hands-on experiences with tinkering and experimental procedure. Lessons are planned to coincide with and build on students’ classroom learning, but also requiring higher-order and out-of-the-box thinking. In 2017, the P3 classes made use of Strawbees kits to create structures, while the P4 classes conducted Kitchen Science investigations.

Students in a science lab build geometric structures with straws and connectors, while balloon experiments demonstrate gas-producing reactions.

Programmes

Science Around Us

Students are encouraged to see the role of Science in their everyday lives through learning spaces throughout the school. Science murals can be found in high-traffic areas, and the biodiversity in school has been increased so students get to observe a variety of plants and animals up close. Labels have been created for the plants around the school, to provide students with relevant and interesting information.

School biodiversity displays, a vertical garden, and outdoor planting beds showcase environmental learning and nature conservation.

Toys are also used to demonstrate Science concepts, and students get hands-on experience with the toys to figure out how the concepts are applied.

In addition, Science learning is carried out through stories. Science storybooks are read to lower primary students as part of ‘Share-a-Book’, while Science storybooks and comic books have been added to the class libraries, to expose students to different genres and content matter.

Science Comes Alive

Besides their everyday lives, this programme aims to help students see the role of Science in society and community. In 2017, assembly talks were conducted on global warming, Singapore’s biodiversity, and water conservation.

Students explore a plant nursery and take part in hands-on seed planting activities during an outdoor science learning programme.

P3 and P4 students go on Science Learning Journeys to reinforce the concepts taught in class through experiential learning. In 2017, the P3 students visited a vegetable and mushroom farm, and attended a workshop on Magnets at the Science Centre. The P4 students visited a frog farm, and attended a workshop on Light at the Science Centre.

Students at a frog farm observe and interact with frogs during a hands-on wildlife learning experience.

Students explore interactive science exhibits, using hands-on displays to investigate light, air, and other scientific concepts.

P5 to P6 Programmes

P5 and P6 students also go on Science Learning Journeys. In 2017, the P5 Standard Science students visited the Science Centre for a workshop on Heat and the HealthZone at HPB to learn about healthy body systems. The P5 Foundation Science students visited the Science Centre for workshops on Plant Reproduction and Electricity. The P6 students visited the Science Centre for a workshop on Pond Life, as well as the SEA Aquarium to learn about marine habitats.

Students conduct fieldwork and laboratory experiments, collecting samples, observing organisms, and analyzing scientific data.

Venues for learning journeys are selected to provide a spread of experiences in both Life and Physical Science, and for their relevance and value-add to the curriculum.