Art LJ "Hike It!"

Hike It! @ Singapore River: Secondary 2 Art Sculpture Walk & Amazing Race

As part of Springfield Secondary School’s Lower Secondary Art curriculum, our Secondary 2 students embarked on an experiential learning journey titled Hike It! @ Singapore River: Secondary 2 Art Sculpture Walk & Amazing Race on 21 October 2025. Led by the Art Unit, this annual learning journey remains a highlight of Springfield’s Art 2-Year Implementation Programme (2YIP), exemplifying how authentic, place-based learning can bring history, culture, and creativity together beyond the classroom.

This programme encouraged students to explore how public art and monuments tell the story of Singapore’s heritage. Through an engaging trail stretching along Empress Place and Boat Quay, students discovered sculptures such as First Generation by Chong Fah Cheong, From Chettiars to Financiers by Chern Lian Shan, A Great Emporium by Malcolm Koh, and the Sir Stamford Raffles statues by Thomas Woolner. These site-specific artworks sparked curiosity about the lives of early settlers, merchants, and financiers who once animated the Singapore River.

Students worked in teams to complete an Amazing Race-style challenge, where they solved clues, analysed artworks, and made creative connections between art, architecture, and history. The activity encouraged collaboration, problem-solving, and observation skills while deepening their appreciation of sculpture as both artistic expression and historical record.

Reflecting on their experience, students shared that the learning journey helped them apply the big ideas of how “Art tells stories of our world” and “Art influences the way we live.” The walk also inspired students to notice the relationship between art, place, and community and learn about the very essence of site-specific art.