Reported by:
Yong En Zi Jr2Z(2)
On the 18th of April 2026, the Academic Department hosted a one-day event to assess the Junior 2 mid-year chemistry projects, namely the Chemistry Project Appraisal. A month before this, Junior 2 classes were split into their respective groups to develop board games based on the chemistry curriculum.
Starting at 8.00 am, 5 minutes were allocated for preparation. The students were reminded to sit in groups and have the required materials ready. From 8.05 am to 9.05 am, within this hour students paid full attention to either their board games and card games alike – cutting out laminated cards, constructing board game equipment and adding finishing touches according to their design. The groups toiled away for an hour and a half before the teachers on duty instructed the groups to exchange their games with one another.
Most students had finished the project on time, while a handful of students were unfortunately unable to pass up a complete product within the allotted timeframe. In the next half an hour, students tested on the games. Each group was given a Game Evaluation Form – a form in which each group would need to jot down marks for the game they had exchanged and received. The classroom air was alive with excited lively chatter as students buzzed with activity, and the teacher sat at the front desk, keeping a watchful, supportive presence.
As the day came to a close, both genuine satisfaction and a bit of disappointment were shown towards the organised event. Out of the 14 students interviewed after the event, 9 students gave positive reviews of the Chemistry Project Appraisal programme. The remaining students either felt neutral or shared areas they would like to see improved. “There was insufficient time available to play the games thoroughly and we were rushing from beginning to end.” said Tan Yee Ching from Jr2Z(2), “But on the contrary, the finished products turned out exquisite.”
In conclusion, it was a great example of academic learning that encouraged students to excel not only inside the classroom, but also to develop innovative, forward-thinking ideas. This programme both taught the students about the importance of teamwork, and challenged their creativity and knowledge. That said, we are optimistic that more events will be held in the foreseeable future—events that will help students unlock their potential.
