This presentation showcases how the National Geographic Explorer Program aligns with the Singapore's EL curriculum. The National Geographic Explorer Program is a unique and holistic program designed to inculcate and advocate positive attitudes and ethics through real-life adventures of Explorers (non-fiction literacy). Furthermore, it provides opportunity for students to acquire and challenge their inquiry and critical thinking skills progressively. In addition, it empowers teachers with 21st Century tools to employ interactive teaching and learning (white space), aligned with the desired MOE curriculum.
2. • It is one of the largest non-profit
scientific and educational
institutions in the world.
• National Geographic Explorer is a
MISSION project of the National
Geographic Society. National
Geographic strongly believes in
the important role education
plays in society and we are
committed to invest in basic
education. Thus, Explorer is
subsidized and this is reflected in
the inexpensive price.
National Geographic’s Mission is to increase global understanding and promote
conservation of our planet through exploration, research, and education.
Credit: Dr. Jane Goodall, National Geographic Society
About NatGeo
3. About Us
• World Edu-League is a full-fledged and independent
social enterprise focused on the areas of
environmental and societal awareness,
• with a mission to further the agenda of the ‘Green’
movements in Singapore and other countries in the
Asia Pacific region.
• At our core, we aim to educate each successive
generation of students through exciting National
Geographic content and experiential platforms that
seek the participation of students, schools and
families in the counties we operate in.
• Exclusive marketing and distribution agent for
National Geographic Magazines in Singapore &
Malaysia.
4. The National Geographic Explorer
Program (NGX)
• A unique and holistic program designed to
– Inculcate and advocate positive attitudes and ethics
through understanding the roles played by Science in
daily life, society and the environment.
– Provide opportunity for students to acquire and
challenge their inquiry and critical thinking skills
progressively;
– Empower teachers with 21st Century tools to employ
interactive teaching & learning (white space), aligned
with the desired MOE curriculum
Explorer & Singapore Curriculum
5. How does NGX achieve the aims of
the MOE Primary Science Syllabus?
• Stimulate curiosity through inquiry-based learning
– Student as inquirer, Teacher as leader of
inquiry
• Provide students with basic scientific terms and
concepts to help them understand themselves and
the world around them
• Provide students with opportunities to develop
skills, habits of mind and attitudes necessary for
scientific inquiry.
• Help students appreciate how science influences
people and the environment
6. Aligning NGX with Science Themes
Themes Essential Takeaways How it is shown in NGX?
Diversity • Great Variety of living and non-living
things around us
• Man can classify them based on
similarities and differences to better
understand them
• Maintaining biodiversity around us
ensures their continual survival
• Extreme March Page 5 & 9 (adaptations
for survival, variation of traits)
• Adventurer March Page 6 & 7 (Food
web)
• Teacher can lead the inquiry process by
asking students why is it important to
maintain diversity
Cycles • Repeated patterns of change around us
• Observing cycles helps us to make
predictions and understand things
around us
• Trailblazer, Pathfinder and Adventurer
March – Water Cycle
Systems • System is made of different parts. Each
part has its own unique function.
• Different parts/ systems interact to
perform function (s).
• Extreme May Article 2 (Earth & Solar
System)
7. Aligning NGX with Science Themes
Themes Essential Takeaways How it is shown in NGX?
Interactions • Interactions among man, living and non-
living things in the environment
• Man can interact with environment to
make positive/negative impacts
• Plays an important role in conservation to
ensure continuity of life and availability of
resources.
• Pathfinder March Article 1 (social
interaction, how wolves hunt in a
pack)
• Trailblazer May Article 3-
interaction of plants, organisms
and animals, and how action of
humans caused the biodiversity to
be endangered/ becoming extinct.
Energy • Energy is required to enable things to
work or move
• Different forms of energy and they can be
converted from one form to another
• Some sources of energy can be depleted
and man plays an important role in
energy conservation
• April Trailblazer, Adventurer-
Article 1 (Light and Chemical
Energy)
8. How does NGX teaches
scientific Skills & Processes?
• Science themes clearly stated at
the start of every article with key
inquiry questions
• NGX provides opportunities for
students to acquire skills such as:
– Formulating Hypothesis
– Predicting
– Observing
– Experimentation
– Evaluation
– Comparing
9. How does NGX teach Attitudes
& Ethics?
• Attitudes and Ethics
– Inquiry questions prompted at the start of every article to stimulate
curiosity and desire to explore further and ask questions
– Problem-based activities provide opportunities for students to
suggest creative and relevant ways to solve problems.
– Stories of scientists showing perseverance, using their failure to their
benefit, ending in success. (E.g Critter Cam technology)
– Authentic stories from Nat Geo Scientists and researchers,
presented objectively to create awareness of the environment, thus
developing responsible and reflective citizens.
10. Usage of NGX for White Space
• NGX fits perfectly into the white space prescribed
in the curriculum:
– Utilizing more engaging teaching/learning approaches
• Flipped classroom, project based learning, etc…
• Experiential Education
• Interactive learning technologies
– Customized school-based programmes
• NGX Quiz
• Green Carpet Awards Adventure Trails & Awards
11. 7 Age-Appropriate Reading Levels
Recommended Reading Levels:
• Young Explorer Scout: Pre-School
• Young Explorer Voyager: P1
• Explorer Pioneer: P2
• Explorer Trailblazer: P3
• Explorer Pathfinder: P4
• Explorer Adventurer: P5
• Science Explorer: P6- Lower Sec
12. Non-fiction Literacy with NGX
• Age-appropriate, Lexile graded
• Authentic Reading Experience
• Proven Comprehension Strategies
• Chunking of Text
• Liberal Use of Sub-headings
• In-article WordWise (Glossary)
• Build Visual Literacy
– Info Graphics
– Photos and Captions
• Research proves, “non-fiction
reading promotes student success”.
13. Interactive Learning with
Virtual Lessons HD
• Incorporate Visual and Audio
Elements
– Sentences are highlighted for better
comprehension, and read-along build
better pronunciation and fluency.
– Engage students of the 21st Century
• Home Connections for Self-Directed
Learning
– Allows students to control pace of
learning
– Save curriculum time
*Available to all subscribing students with a
marginal setup cost.
14. Interactive Learning with
Magazine Maker II
• Amazing tool for teachers to
engage students in creative
writing projects.
• NatGeo stock photos available
for royalty free use
• Upload own pictures
• Spell check (Available in both US
and UK versions)
• Publish with ease via PDF format.
• Available FOC to all subscribers.
15. Empowering Teaching Tools
with Digital Assessments
• VLHD Quiz
– 3-5 MCQ questions
– Immediate testing of knowledge
retention after reading through article
once
• Digital Assessments on
NGEXPLORER.NET
– Complete exam format assessment
sheet that can be digitally completed
– reduces workload for teachers as most
questions are automatically graded.
* Available to all subscribing students with a marginal
setup cost.
16. Empowering Teaching Tools
with iPad App & IWB Flipcharts
• A powerful tool for teachers to
engage students with the same
content as the magazine, but
formatted for the interactive tablet
with animations, interactive
activities and amazing videos built
into the article.
• Also comes with interactive IWB
exercises which can engage the
whole class in interactive learning.
• Available to teachers only (FOC with
school subscriptions)
17. NGX Teaching Resources
Detailed Teacher's Guides
(Complete and ready lesson
plans, available at your fingertips
2 weeks prior to the magazines)
Downloadable worksheets for
Science and English along with
the respective answer-keys
Large Classroom posters
Available to teachers only (FOC
with school subscriptions)
18. Student Engagement with
NGX Quizzes
• Connections with National Geographic
Explorer through authentic stories
• Win attractive prizes every publication
month.
• Compete with schools across the
island.
• Prizes to be given out during morning
assemblies.
• Available to all subscribing schools.
19. A Holistic Programme
– Confident People – empower students with vast amount of
knowledge through real-life discoveries and research.
– Self-Directed Learners – allow students to take ownership in
learning at their own pace comfortably
– Concerned Citizens – Develop environmentally aware
students and global citizens. Values in action show students
how they can contribute.
– Creative and Critcial thinkers- Stimulates curiosity in spurs
students’ interest in creative writing and thinking skills.