Social Studies · Primary 1

Active learning ideas

Ethnic Diversity and Social Cohesion

Active learning works for this topic because young children learn best through hands-on experiences and visuals. Engaging with cultural objects, languages, and traditions helps them connect abstract ideas to concrete examples, making diversity meaningful and memorable.

• MOE Syllabus Outcomes
• MOE: Multiculturalism and Society - MS

• 25–40 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Gallery Walk
• 35 min · Small Groups

Gallery Walk: Cultural Displays

Display student-contributed photos or drawings of foods, clothes, and festivals from different ethnic groups around the classroom. Students walk in small groups, noting one special item per station and discussing similarities. Conclude with whole-class sharing of favorites.

Can you name the four main ethnic groups in Singapore?

Facilitation Tip

During the Gallery Walk, circulate to listen for students' observations about how cultural items are arranged, guiding them to notice similarities and differences between groups.

What to look for

Show students pictures of common Singaporean foods (e.g., roti prata, dim sum, nasi lemak). Ask them to point to or name the ethnic group they associate with each food. This checks their ability to classify based on cultural associations.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Activity 02

• Numbered Heads Together
• 25 min · Whole Class

Greeting Circle: Languages of Singapore

Form a circle where each student teaches a simple greeting in one of the four official languages. Practice chorally, then in pairs, switching roles. Record greetings on chart paper for a class display.

What are some languages spoken in Singapore?

Facilitation Tip

In the Greeting Circle, model correct pronunciation and encourage students to repeat phrases, reinforcing language diversity through repetition and peer support.

What to look for

Ask students: 'Imagine you are hosting a new friend from another country. What is one thing you would like to share about your family's culture, or about another culture in Singapore, to help them understand our country?' This prompts them to explain aspects of diversity.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Relationship Skills
• Self-Management

Activity 03

• Numbered Heads Together
• 30 min · Pairs

Sorting Mats: Ethnic Traits

Provide mats labeled with ethnic groups and picture cards of foods, clothes, and festivals. In pairs, students sort cards correctly and explain choices. Extend by adding 'shared Singaporean' category for common items like hawker food.

What is something special about the food, clothes, or festivals of two different groups in Singapore?

Facilitation Tip

Use Sorting Mats to let students physically group items, which helps young learners categorize information through tactile engagement.

What to look for

Give each student a card with the name of one of the four main ethnic groups. Ask them to write or draw one thing that is special about that group's culture (e.g., a festival, food, or clothing item). This assesses their ability to recall specific cultural elements.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Relationship Skills
• Self-Management

Activity 04

• Numbered Heads Together
• 40 min · Small Groups

Festival Role-Play

Assign small groups one festival; provide props for simple skits showing preparations and celebrations. Perform for class, with audience noting unique and shared elements. Debrief on how all groups contribute to national joy.

Can you name the four main ethnic groups in Singapore?

What to look for

Show students pictures of common Singaporean foods (e.g., roti prata, dim sum, nasi lemak). Ask them to point to or name the ethnic group they associate with each food. This checks their ability to classify based on cultural associations.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Relationship Skills
• Self-Management

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should approach this topic by starting with what students already know, such as their family traditions, before introducing new cultural elements. Avoid generalizations by using specific examples from each group’s traditions. Research suggests that storytelling and role-playing build empathy, so incorporate these methods to help students understand diverse perspectives.

Successful learning looks like students confidently identifying ethnic groups, languages, and cultural features while demonstrating respect for differences. They should also connect these elements to their daily lives, showing how diversity enriches Singapore’s identity.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Greeting Circle, watch for students assuming all classmates celebrate the same festivals or speak the same languages.

  Use the Greeting Circle to introduce phrases like 'Selamat Hari Raya' and 'Gong Xi Fa Cai,' then ask students to share how their families celebrate, highlighting overlaps like public holidays or school events.

• During Sorting Mats, watch for students ranking ethnic groups as more or less 'Singaporean.'

  During the Sorting Mats activity, have students add contributions from each group to a shared poster, such as 'Mdm Tan teaches us Mandarin' or 'Uncle Rahim sells roti prata,' to emphasize equal contributions.

• During Festival Role-Play, watch for students assuming diversity leads to arguments.

  In the Festival Role-Play, assign roles that require cooperation, like planning a community event together, to show how diversity fosters teamwork and shared goals.

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Methods used in this brief

• Gallery Walk
• Numbered Heads Together