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Humanities
Humanities@SMBSS: Understanding and Connecting to Singapore and the World
About the Department
At SMBSS, we believe that the Humanities help students make sense of the world around them and understand their place within it.
Through Geography, History and Social Studies, we cultivate an inquiring spirit and encourage students to examine issues from different perspectives. Our programmes seek to develop informed, concerned and active citizens who are able to think critically, appreciate diverse perspectives and engage thoughtfully with issues affecting Singapore and the wider world.
Beyond acquiring knowledge, we want our students to ask meaningful questions, make connections and recognise the relevance of the Humanities to their everyday lives and future.
Learning Opportunities for Students
Learning Humanities@SMBSS is grounded in inquiry, relevance and authentic learning. Students are encouraged to investigate questions, interpret evidence, consider different perspectives and construct well-reasoned conclusions.
Their thinking and inquiry skills are progressively developed from Secondary 1 through the upper secondary years. Classroom learning is complemented by experiences beyond the classroom so that students can see how concepts studied in Geography, History and Social Studies connect with real places, real issues and real decisions.
Through discussions, field-based learning, learning journeys and engagement with practitioners, students develop a deeper understanding of both Singapore and the wider world.
Key Programmes
Learning Journeys – Bringing the Humanities to Life
Learning journeys provide students with opportunities to encounter History, Geography and Social Studies beyond textbooks and classrooms. Visits to places such as the Changi Chapel and Museum and the Singapore Discovery Centre allow students to connect what they learn with authentic sites, experiences and narratives.
These experiences encourage students to observe, question and reflect, helping them appreciate how historical events, geographical processes and societal issues have shaped Singapore and the world around them.
Through the Student Archivist Project, conducted in collaboration with Founders’ Memorial, students explored Singapore’s history and nation-building journey. Through immersive learning experiences, historical inquiry and hands-on activities, students developed a deeper appreciation of Singapore’s heritage, the contributions of our founding leaders and the importance of preserving our collective memories for future generations.
Humanities Speaker Series – Connecting Classroom Learning with the Real World
Introduced in 2026, our Humanities Speaker Series brings practitioners and organisations into conversation with our students. The series enables students to discover how ideas and skills learnt in the Humanities are applied to contemporary issues and real-world decision-making. Through two engaging sessions, students explored how Geography shapes everyday life in Singapore and appreciate the relevance of Geography in shaping Singapore’s future.
For example, students learnt how CHAGEE uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and geographical data to inform decisions about potential store locations. A session by the Singapore Food Agency enabled students to explore the challenges surrounding food security and better understand how Singapore responds to constraints and changing global conditions.
Through the two engaging sessions, students explored how Geography shapes everyday life in Singapore and appreciate the relevance of Geography in shaping Singapore’s future.
Extending Learning through National Platforms
Students are also given opportunities to extend and challenge themselves beyond the school curriculum through national-level programmes and competitions such as the Geography Challenge.
Participation in such platforms allows students to apply their knowledge and geographical thinking in new contexts, deepen their interest in the discipline and learn alongside students from other schools.
For two consecutive years, our students distinguished themselves by clinching the Top Performing Team Award (Creative Component) at the Geography Challenge organised by the National University of Singapore (NUS). This achievement reflects their creativity, critical thinking, teamwork and ability to apply geographical knowledge and skills to real-world challenges.
Our Humanities Learner
Ultimately, we hope to nurture students who are curious about the world, confident in asking questions and thoughtful in forming their own perspectives.
Whether they are examining Singapore's past, investigating geographical challenges or discussing contemporary societal issues, we want our students to leave the Humanities classroom able to think critically, appreciate different perspectives and make informed judgements about the world in which they live.
Geographical Investigation in School
Our Secondary 1 Geography students embarked on a hands-on geographical investigation, using weather instruments such as the weather tracker to collect primary data on weather conditions. Through careful observation, hypothesis formulation and data collection, students developed essential geographical inquiry skills. This authentic learning experience encouraged them to think critically, analyse their findings and draw meaningful conclusions about factors influencing weather conditions in their surroundings.
