Biology Fieldtrip at Biology Fieldtrip at D’Kranji ResortD’Kranji Resort

& Jurong Frog Farm& Jurong Frog Farm

Pre-Field Trip PrepPre-Field Trip Prep

• Identify the instructional objectives to be met during the field trip

• Select the field trip destination and seek approval from the school

• Contact the destination representative and seek for permission and information for the trip

• Arrange transportation

• Confirm the date and time of departure with the school, the destination and the transportation

• Make sure the parents are informed of the – purpose of the trip– itinerary of the trip– supervisory arrangement– Eating arrangement– Emergency SOP – Emergency contact numbers

Risk AssessmentRisk Assessment

Safety ConsiderationsSafety Considerations• Ensure risk assessment is carried out.

• Wear protective wear appropriate to the field trip weather conditions: sunscreen, cap during warm weather.

• Wear covered shoes.

• Ensure all the essential items in the First Aid kit are complete.

• Be alert for hazards and aware of your surroundings at all times.

• All personal belongings must always be well protected.

On the trip day

• Make roll call

• Account for all the students before leaving– Notify the school and the parents of the absentees

• Make sure the First Aid kit is perfect

• Break the students into smaller groups and assign chaperones

• Remind the students of the purpose of the visit and what is to be done there

Students background

• Secondary two express class of mixed ability

• Have learnt the entire lower secondary syllabus

• Post-exam field trip that is to be held in late October or early November

Learning Objectives

• Describe the uses and benefits of science and technology to society, particularly in the field of agriculture and farming.

• Describe some limitations of science and technology in solving societal problems, particularly in the field of agriculture and farming.

• Show an awareness that science is not confined to the laboratory but is manifested in all aspects of the world.

• Show an appreciation of man’s responsibility to have care and concern for living things and the environment.

At the end of field trip, students should be able to:

Rationales • A lot of options to choose from, opportunity to have a

variety of activites

• Farms are clustered around the same area, thus convenient to do farm-hopping

• Most of the places have educational tours tailored to schools and students (some are free of charge)

• Different topics from the syllabus can be incorporated (e.g. sexual reproduction, nutrition, biotechnology)

Kranji CountrysideD’Kranji Farm Resort

Introduction

Conceived in Jan 2005 by a group of farmers who want to raise awareness of Singapore’s rural northwestern corner

Consists of a group of fisheries, livestock farms, vegetable farms

A recreational and educational venue that is dedicated to increase Singapore’s production of eggs, vegetables, fish, milk etc.

Plenty of educational activities for studentsEnsures that students in Singapore are brought up to appreciate and treasure nature

The Farmpreneurs

The Locations

D’Kranji Farm Resort• Singapore’s first Agri-tainment farmstay

– Official opening in September 2008

• 5 hectares of land surrounded by tropical fruits, vegetables, a corn plantation and a rice plantation

• Other facilities include a R&D center and a coffee museum

• Educational tour and activities for students and camping site in the near future

• The only commercial frog farm in Singapore

• Imports and exports fresh edible water livestocks like bullfrogs, eels, turtles, catfish, snakeheads and tilapia

• Mainly rear American bullfrogs for their medicinal value.

• Frog meat is preferred as it has less cholesterol than poultry

• The essence of the bullfrog is extracted here, using advanced technology

Introduction of the Frog farm

Pre-trip briefing game.A charade of taboo(ed) drawings.

Edible morning glory flowers all around the farm.

Detailed ItineraryDetailed Itineraryand Suggested learning points.

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Time Programme0730-0800 Meeting in school; Attendance taking;

Travel to D’Kranji Resort0830-0900 Arrival at D’Kranji Resort; General Instructions0900-0920 Essence Vale's Herbs Garden 0920-0940 Coffee Museum0940-1000 Corn Plantation1000-1020 Paddy Plantation1020-1100 Research & Development Centre (Corn and

Paddy) 1100-1145 Gathering of Students

Snacks; Toilet breakLeave for Frog Farm

1145-1200 Travel to Frog Farm1200-1300 Frog Farm1300-1330 Travel back to school

Kranji CountrysideD’Kranji Farm Resort

Essence Vale's Herbs Essence Vale's Herbs Garden Garden

• There widest variety of herbs that can be found in Singapore.

• The herb garden is designed in an orderly yet beautiful manner.

• As one walks through the garden, the sight and smell of the herbs will give the guest a relaxing and refreshing feeling.

Learning Points - herbs• Students are able to observe a

collection of more than 30 types of herbs used in aromatherapy.

• The herbs are arranged according the plant part where essential oils are extracted from.

• They can be educated about the benefits of the respective herbs.

Basil plants.

Coffee Museum

The Museum will showcase the history of coffee and its manufacturing process from seed to coffee powder.

Learning Points

Processing and manufacturing of – coffee beans– Instant coffee

Corn Plantation

Experiential learning - able to touch and see actual crops.

Female flower, aka silk.

Male flower, aka tassel.

Paddy PlantationAble to see the actual paddy fields and rice grains.

Learning points – Paddy

• Duration needed for germination and harvest.• Naming the various plant parts of rice grain.

Rice Milling

Rice is harvested from rice plant in form of seed called paddy, consisting of husk, bran, germ and starch. This starch part is what we consume as rice.

To get from paddy to rice needed to pass through several steps.

Research & Development Centre

(Corn and Paddy) • Detailed explanation on the agriculture of Paddy and Corn, as well

as their scientific properties that will be researched on by our R&D researchers.

With key areas of specialty researches under:

• Providing cost-effective solutions to enhance food security, food safety against depleting oil source by producing high content crop as an alternative source of energy (Bio-Fuel).

• Address immediate issues with efficient use of fertilizers and to increase crops tolerance level to environmental stresses such as drought, heat and poor soil conditions in alignment with international standards and sustainability.

Learn about Biotechnology

Farm-hopping

Students will learn about (i)…BiodiversityBiodiversity

• The importance of frogs in an environment

• The life cycle of a frog– Metamorphosis process– Differentiating male and female frogs– Students can buy the tadpoles to observe the lifecycle on their own

NutritionNutrition• The nutritional value of frog

meat

• Nutrition of frogs– What they eat?– Water collection

RespirationRespiration• Breathing process of frogs

– Why the skin is always wet– Different breathing organs

between the young and adult frogs

Sexual ReproductionSexual Reproduction• Frogs’ mating process

– How external fertilization happens

– How is it possible

Students will learn about (ii)…

Tadpoles swimming around in the mating pond.

Post-trip Activities• Students are expected to ask questions, gather information and take pictures

during the field trip in order to complete the post-trip activities.

• Individuals will come out with their own Reflections. Listing what they– have already know before the trip– have learnt from the trip.– will want to know more about. (self-directed learning)

• Groups will have to do a Presentation on– Three (of their own choice) type of herbs and their uses.– Corns and their uses.– Paddy grains and their uses.– Biotechnology and its application on agriculture.– The manufacturing and processes of coffee beans.– Life cycle of Frogs (Amphibians).

Sunflower seeds

Resources• http://www.jurongfrogfarm.com.sg/main.html• http://www.hlh.com.sg/default.asp• http://www.dkranji.com.sg/

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