Singapore: Our Home · Semester 2

National Flower and Natural Heritage

Exploring the Vanda Miss Joaquim as Singapore's national flower, its significance, and the broader efforts to preserve Singapore's natural heritage and biodiversity.

About This Topic

Our National Flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim, is a unique orchid that represents Singapore's resilience and multi-cultural harmony. Students learn about its history, discovered by Agnes Joaquim in 1893, and why it was chosen in 1981: for its vibrant colours, hardiness, and the fact that it blooms all year round.

This topic is part of the MOE Social Studies curriculum's focus on national identity. It uses a natural symbol to teach students about the qualities that make Singapore strong. Students grasp this concept faster through hands-on activities like 'botanical drawing' and by discussing how a flower can represent a whole country's spirit.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle: The Hardy Orchid

In small groups, students look at photos of the Vanda Miss Joaquim and other flowers. They list the orchid's features (vibrant, strong stem) and discuss why a 'tough' flower is a good symbol for a small country.

⏱ 25 min·Small Groups

Generate mission

Think-Pair-Share: Who was Agnes Joaquim?

Students listen to a short story about Agnes Joaquim. They think about how she must have felt to find a new flower and share with a partner why it's important to remember her name.

⏱ 15 min·Pairs

Generate mission

Gallery Walk: Flowers of the World

Display photos of national flowers from other countries. Students move around and compare them to the Vanda Miss Joaquim, discussing what makes our flower unique to Singapore.

⏱ 20 min·Small Groups

Generate mission

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Students might think that any orchid can be the national flower.

What to Teach Instead

Teachers can use a 'Spot the Difference' activity with photos of different orchids. This helps students identify the specific features of the Vanda Miss Joaquim and understand why this exact hybrid was chosen.

Common Misconception

Students may believe the flower was chosen just because it is pretty.

What to Teach Instead

Through discussion, teachers can highlight the orchid's 'hardiness' (its ability to grow in tough conditions). This surfaces the idea that national symbols are chosen for the values they represent, like resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the Vanda Miss Joaquim chosen as the national flower?

It was chosen in 1981 because it is a hardy and resilient flower that blooms all year round. Its vibrant colours and the way it grows represent Singapore's own resilience as a nation and our ability to thrive and stay united despite challenges.

Who was Agnes Joaquim?

Agnes Joaquim was a Singaporean of Armenian heritage who was a very skilled gardener. In 1893, she discovered this unique orchid in her garden. It was later named after her and became the first orchid hybrid to be named as a national flower in the world.

How can active learning help students appreciate the national flower?

Active learning, like the 'Hardy Orchid' investigation, helps students connect a biological object to a national value. When they observe the flower's physical strength and year-round blooming, and then link it to the word 'resilience,' the concept becomes much more concrete. This hands-on analysis helps them see the Vanda Miss Joaquim not just as a pretty plant, but as a symbol of their own country's strength.

Where can I see the Vanda Miss Joaquim in Singapore?

You can see it in many places, including the National Orchid Garden at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It is also often planted in parks and along roadsides throughout our 'City in Nature' to celebrate our national heritage.

Browse curriculum by country

• Americas
• US
• CA
• MX
• CL
• CO
• BR

• Europe
• UK
• IE
• FR
• DE
• ES
• IT
• NL
• PT
• SE

• Asia & Pacific
• IN
• SG
• AU