Compile a list of ‘dos’ & ‘don’ts’ for the customs of our ethnic groups (at least 3 ‘dos’ and 3 ‘don’ts’ for each ethnic group chosen). (5 points)

ASPECT: Social Defence

Malays:

Dos:
1. Fast during the Ramadan month
2. Dress modestly when visiting a Muslim home
3. Use your right hand to recieve gifts when possible

Don'ts
1. Dont eat pork or lard
2. Do not touch dogs
3. Blood cannot be eaten or drank

Chinese:
Dos:
1. Do wear clothes of bright colours during Chinese New Year
2. Do give 2 mandarin oranges as a token during Chinese New year
3. Do clean up your house before Chinese New Year

Don'ts:
1. Do not sweep the floor during Chinese New Year
2. Do not give clocks to the Chinese as gifts as it is considered as a taboo gift
3. Do not use scissors during Chinese New Year

Indians
Dos:
1. Take off your shoes when visiting a Hindu temple
2. Attend funerals in somber colours
3. Give small tokens of money in odd numbers during funerals

Donts:
1. Don't eat beef
2. Avoid wearing clothes of dark colours during Indian weddings
3. Give frangipanis to Indians as Indians use them during funerals only

Compile a set of pictures/photos of our national symbols (at least 3), accompanied by a short write-up of their significance/ symbolism. (5 points)


Vanda Miss Joaquim, National flower of Singapore

Significance

On April 15, 1981the Minister of Culture, S. Dahnabalan, announced that Vanda Miss Joaquim was chosen as Singapore's national flower among 40 other flowers. Vanda Miss Joaquim was able to bloom throughout the whole year and this ability of Vanda Miss Joquim reflects Singapore's quest for continuous progress and exellence. Also, Vanda Miss Joquim's natural resilience also reflects the determination of all Singaporeans to stay strong even in times of difficulty.

National flag of Singapore

Significance

The National Flag of Singapore consists of two equal horizontal sections, red above white. The red section in the flag symbolises universal brotherhood and equality of men and the white section symbolises purity and virtue.There is a white cresent moon with 5 stars in the top left canton is a white crescent moon. The crescent moon represents a young nation on the ascendant and the five stars stand for the nation's ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.

Symbol of Singapore

Significance

The lion head symbolises courage, strength and excellence, as well as resilience when facing challenges. The The symbol usese the colours of the national flag with the lion head being solid red against a white background. Its mane's five partings represent the nation's five ideals that the five stars of the national flag also symbolises, namely democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality. Its tenacious mane symbolises the nation's single-minded resolve to rise to any challenges and overcome any obstacles.

TASK 2

You are a cub reporter for your school’s newsletter. Produce a short article (with photos) on the highlights of any of the museums in Singapore. (15 points)

ASPECT: Psychological defence



How much do you know about Singapore's history? Do you want to find out more about Singapore's history? Well, the National Museum of Singapore is just the place for you to get to know more about the rich culture and heritage of Singapore that is unknown to many.The National Museum of Sing pore is the biggest and also the oldest museum in Singapore, being 119 years old. The Museum introduces cutting edge and different ways of presenting history to redefine the conventional museum experience, so a trip to the museum may not be such a boring thing after all!

If you think that The Singapore National Museum is just a place for exhibitions and artefacts, then you are very wrong. The Singapore National Museum is different from conventional museums over the world and it distinguishes itself from other museums through organising festivals and events that unleashes new possibilities in culture and heritage. This programming is supported by a wide range of facilities and services including Food & Beverage, retail, Resource Centre, Gallery Theatre and the Public Sculpture Garden, among others.

The museum has a permanent 2,800 m² gallery space at the new glass clad building within a glass rotunda. A story telling approach is used at the gallery space to feature the history or Singapore dating back to the 14th century. There are 15-metre high cylindrical walls where images and films can be projected, presenting the history of Singapore to the public in a much more interesting and engaging way. There will be a narration of the history and display of artistic expressions of the history. Other permanent exhibitions include the cultural history of Singapore which will feature exhibits of photography, film, cuisine, fashion and other lifestyle artifacts.

There is also a research centre in the building which contains old books, photographs, negatives and stamps which would be for public viewing. National Museum will introduced a new wireless technology which allows the playing of audio and visual materials automatically when visitors enter designated zones, turning the National Museum into a place with advance technologies that would attract the the young and old.

The Museum currently houses 11 artifacts, namely the Singapore Stone, the Gold Ornaments of the Sacred Hill from East Java, Dagguerreotype of Singapore Town which was one of the earliest photographs of Singapore, the will of Munshi Abdullah, the potrait of Frank Athelstane Swettenham, the hearse of Tan Jiak Kim, a Peranakan coffin cover, the mace of the City of SIngapore commemorating King George VI's raising of the island's status to a city in 1951, the Xin Sai Le puppet stage, William Faquhar's drawings of flora and fauna and the potrait of Shenton Thomas, who was the former governer of Singapore. Rocks from the nearby Fort Canning Hill which were used toi create two sculptures commissioned from Cultural Medallion winner Hai San Por. With so many interesting artifacts awaiting you at the National Museum of Singapore, what reason do you have not to go?

TASK 3

Design a brochure introducing the major festivals of our ethnic groups. (5 points)

ASPECT: Social Defence

TASK　１

Compile a set of pictures/photos of our national landmarks　(at least 3), accompanied by a short write-up of their　significance and history.

The Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay is a waterside building located on six hectares of waterfront land alongside Marina Bay near the mouth of the Singapore River, it was built with the aim of it becoming the centre for performing arts for Singapore. It officially opened on Octover 12 2002 and it developed with a cost of $600 million.

Taking its name from the nearby Esplanade, it contains a 1,600 seat concert hall and a 2,000 seat treat for the performing arts. The building was designed by two firms, the DP Architect (DPA) of Singapore and the London-based Michel Wilford & Partners (MWP), although the later left the project in May 1995. The unique design has been said to have an appearance similar to a durian and the eyes of a fly. Many Singaporeans often refer to the Esplanade as "The Durian".

The Merlion is an imaginary creature with the head of a fish and the body of a fish. Its name comes from the words "lion" and "mermaid". The fish body recalls of Singapore's ancient name, Temasek, which means "sea town" in Javanese when in was once a fishing village while the lion head represents Singapore's original name Singapura, which means Lion City in Malay.

It was designed by Mr Fraser Brunner, a member of the Souvenir Committee and curator of the Van Kleef Aquarium.The Merlion was used as a logo for the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board from 26 March 1964 to 1997 but it is still a trademark symbol for Singapore until now.

In 2002, the statue and its cub were relocated 120 metres to the current Merlion Park that fronts Marina Bay. It stands on the newly-reclaimed promontory in front of The Fullerton Hotel.

The Singapore River is a small river in Singapore with great historical importance. The Singapore river is 11km long from its source at Kim Seng Bridge, but the waterway extends, as Alexandra Canal, as far as the junction of Commonwealth Avenue. As the Central Area is treated as a central business district, nearly all land surrounding it is commercial.

The mouth of the Singapore River was the old Port of Singapore, being naturally sheltered by the southern islands. Historically, the city of Singapore initially grew around the port so the river mouth became the centre of trade, commerce and finance. To this day, area around the old Singapore River mouth remains the most expensive and economically important piece of land in Singapore.