National Museum of Singapore

Original Building

Building, 1887

The front block of the museum building dates back to 1887. It features an elegant neo-Palladian design, a European style of architecture characterised by a highly symmetrical façade and the use of pediments above windows.

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Family Fun March Holidays at the National Museum

13 Mar 2021 - 21 Mar 2021
Various Timings
Varies with Programme
There is “march” to see and do at the museum this March holidays! Come explore the museum with our new adventure routes, exciting themed on-site programmes each day, and even a mama shop for the young and young at heart to re-live the excitement of purchasing childhood snacks!
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Activity Spaces

Forest Explorers Toddlers’ Space
Glass Atrium, Level 2 | 45-minute slots, 4 families per slot |
For families with children aged 4 years and below

Begin your museum journey with an exploration of our William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings through fruits/animals/colour-themed cards and fun spot-the-difference activities.

The space will be open during the following time-slots:
- Weekdays: 2–2.45pm, 3.45–4.30pm
- Weekends: 11–11.45am, 2–2.45pm, 3.45–4.30pm

Visit toddlersspace2103.peatix.com to book your time-slot.

Green route recommended for children aged 4 years and below:
- A Voyage of Love and Longing | Goh Seng Choo Gallery, Level 2
- Forest Explorers toddlers’ space | Glass Atrium, Level 2
- Story of the Forest | Glass Atrium, Level 2
- Mama shop | Gallery Theatre Foyer, Basement Level
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Fun with Craft Station
Glass Atrium, Level 2 | 1-hour slots, 5 families per slot |
For families with children aged 5 years and above

Draw and colour to your heart’s content with our craft templates (different templates available each day).
Bring your own colouring materials or purchase a craft pack (sponsored by STAEDTLER) for $5!

Admire and be inspired by artworks from the museum’s Appreciation Campaign held in Nov and Dec 2020.
Learn about the appreciation story behind each artwork through the artist’s description.

The craft station will be open during the following time-slots:
   - Weekdays: 1–2pm*, 2.30–3.30pm, 4–5pm
   - Weekends: 10–11am, 11.30am–12.30pm, 1–2pm, 2.30–3.30pm, 4–5pm
*On 15 & 16 Mar, only 1–2pm

Visit craftstation2103.peatix.com to book your time-slot.

Orange route recommended for children aged 5 years and above:
1. Craft station | Glass Atrium, Level 2
2. Home, Truly and Picturing the Pandemic exhibitions | Exhibition Galleries, Basement Level
3. Mama shop | Gallery Theatre Foyer, Basement Level
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Mama Shop
The Canyon, Basement Level | 13–20 Mar
Opening hours: 10am–6pm

When was the last time you visited a mama shop at the void deck of a HDB block? Share with the family what your favourite item on display is, and end your fun family day out with some treats available for purchase from the shop!
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Showtime Saturday #1:

Catch engaging storytelling and character tour performances!


Interactive Storytelling: Timmy & Tammy Talking to Grandpa About the War [SOLD OUT]
13 Mar (Sat) | 10.30–11am & 3.30–4pm | The Salon, Level 1 |
$5 per adult-child pair | Recommended for ages 5 – 9

In this storytelling session based on the popular children’s book Timmy & Tammy Talking to Grandpa About the War, children will learn about banana money and food ration cards that were used during the Japanese Occupation in Singapore, and speak with Great-grandma, who lived through World War Two. After the session, explore our Surviving Syonan gallery in your own time with the help of a list of highlights.

This programme is presented in conjunction with Battle for Singapore (BSG) 2021, organised by the Museum Roundtable. Discover more BSG programmes here!
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Mama Shop Owner character tour
13 Mar (Sat) | 11.30am–12pm & 2.30–3pm
20 Mar (Sat) | 10.30–11am |
$8 per adult-child pair | Age 5–10
Meeting Point: Outside Growing Up Gallery, Level 2. Participants should obtain their gallery admission tickets at the Visitor Services counter on level 1 before proceeding to the meeting point

Follow this mama shop owner as he takes you back in time to discover the stories behind his toys!

Each $8 ticket admits one child and one adult (parent or grandparent) only. Limited spaces available due to safe management measures. Visit mamatour2103.peatix.com to register.
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Sightseeing Sunday:

Let our experienced docents and Museum Hosts show you our handling objects and around the museum!


Artefact Highlights: A Handling Collection Programme
14 Mar (Sun) | 3:30–4pm 20 Mar (Sat) | 11.30am–12pm
The Salon, Level 1 | $5 per adult-child pair, refundable upon verifying on-site attendance | Age 7 and up

Get a glimpse into what growing up in the 80s and 90s was like, through Singapore’s currency series and electronics. In this experiential session, you will be introduced to some of our handling objects.

Each $5 ticket admits one child and one adult (parent or grandparent) only, and will be refunded to you after the session upon verifying your attendance. Please purchase additional tickets if you have more family members coming along. Limited spaces available due to safe management measures. Visit artefacthighlights2103.peatix.com to register.

 

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Building Tour for Families
14 Mar (Sun) | 10.30–11.15am & 2.30–3.15pm |
Meeting point: Rotunda, Level 1 | $5 per adult-child pair, refundable upon verifying on-site attendance | Age 7 – 12

Join us on a learning journey around the museum and discover interesting gems about this 133-year-old building.

Each $5 ticket admits one child and one adult (parent or grandparent) only, and will be refunded to you after the session upon verifying your attendance.

Please purchase additional tickets if you have more family members coming along. Limited spaces available due to safe management measures. Visit buildingtour210314.peatix.com to register.
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Masterchef Monday:

Try your hand at making your own noodles!


Oodles of Noodles – Inter-generational Food-making Workshop
15 Mar (Mon) | 10.30–11.30am & 2.30–3.30pm | The Salon, Level 1 |
$30 per adult-child pair, all ingredients and equipment provided | Age 4 and up

Learn about the different types of noodles that exist in Singapore, and make and bring home a dried packet of your very own handmade noodles, which you can cook in any style you like at home!

Each $30 ticket admits one child and one adult (parent or grandparent) only. Limited spaces available due to safe management measures. Visit noodles210315.peatix.com to register.

This programme is presented in conjunction with NMS’ special exhibition, Home, Truly at the basement level.
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T-I-Y Tuesday:

Tour-It-Yourself using our guides for families and other on-site and online resources! Enjoy our galleries – both permanent and special exhibitions – at your own pace!

Grab a copy of our publications for families, and use them to tour the museum at your own pace!

Early Learning Resources 
$8 per set at the Museum Label shop on Level 1 |
Recommended for age 1 – 6

Get Curious! The Official Interactive Family Guide to the National Museum of Singapore 
$24.90 at the Museum Label shop on Level 1 |
Recommended for age 5 – 8

You can also look out for:
Get Curious! Gallery Trail – New audio clips added!
Various galleries | Free | Age 5 and up

Look out for QR codes on five selected Get Curious! stickers in our Singapore History Gallery! Scan them to listen to bite-sized audio clips on the artefacts’ stories of resilience and innovation, as shared by our Museum Volunteers.

My Photo Scrapbook
Home, Truly special exhibition, Basement Level | Free | A parent/educator guide for use with children aged 4 – 8

This resource features ten exhibition highlights to look out for and aims to help children understand some of the shared experiences familiar to the older generation. Pick up a copy at the gallery entrance to help you and your child explore the exhibition together, or download the digital version here!

Family-Friendly Captions x Crossword Activity
Home, Truly special exhibition, Basement Level | Free | Recommended for children aged 8 – 12

Look out for ten octagonal yellow stickers in the exhibition, with info-nuggets and questions designed to pique children’s curiosity and spark some interesting inter-generational family conversations!

The family-friendly captions also hold the answers to a fun crossword activity (click here) for the young ones!

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Workshop Wednesday:

Get hands-on with us, at one of our workshops!


Makers & Shakers – Inter-generational Music Workshop
17 Mar (Wed) | 10.30–11.15am | The Salon, Level 1 |
$15 per adult-child pair | Age 4 and up

As we ease into the new normal, some things do not have to change! Join us in this fun-filled music-making workshop where you will craft your own DIY music instrument and shake away to create ensemble music together in a socially responsible manner.

Get inspired by the museum's William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings, and learn how changes in the environment around us can lead to harmonious melodies if we work to play together.

Each $15 ticket admits one child and one adult (parent or grandparent) only. Limited spaces available due to safe management measures. Visit makersshakers210317.peatix.com/ to register.
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Toymaker: Make Your Own Wind-Up Space Shuttle
17 Mar (Wed) | 10.30–11.30am | Meeting point: Growing Up Gallery, Level 2 | $18 per adult-child pair | Age 4 – 8

What were some popular children’s games in the 1960s? Join us for an interactive tour of the Growing Up gallery, followed by a craft activity using everyday objects to create and design your very own wind-up toy!

Each $18 ticket admits one child and one adult (parent or grandparent) only. Limited spaces available due to safe management measures. Visit toymaker210317.peatix.com/ to register.
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My Tailor Shop
17 Mar (Wed) | 2.30–3.30pm | Meeting point: Modern Colony Gallery, Level 2 | $18 per adult-child pair | Age 4 – 8

Imagine that you are a tailor in the 1920s, who is tasked with designing an exciting costume for a VIP. What would your costume look like? Learn about the fashion influences and trends of the 1920s through an interactive tour of the Modern Colony gallery, and create your own unique paper outfit after!

Each $18 ticket admits one child and one adult (parent or grandparent) only. Limited spaces available due to safe management measures. Visit https://tailorshop210317.peatix.com/ to register.
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Take-Care-of-Yourself Thursday:

Practise mindfulness with us, both online and on-site at the museum!


Family Mindfulness at the National Museum
Free | Age 5 and up

Join us for this two-part programme (15 minutes each) where you will visit some of the museum’s most well-loved spaces virtually, and practise mindfulness through fun activities, breathing exercises and relaxing stretches. If you are physically at the museum, you can also look out for five panels at various locations, with mindfulness prompts!

Part 1: Daily Mindfulness Techniques


Part 2: Mindful Living


Activity sheets related to the videos can be downloaded below. You can use them when you visit the museum or while watching the videos!
Finding Balance: Strong and Sturdy Like a Tree! 
Mindful Movements: Spot the Plants and Animals!
Mindful Consumption & Being Creative: Cube Puzzle craft template, Toy Car & Matchbox craft template
Mindful Eating: Thinking About My Favourite Food!
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Flashback Friday:

Bring your grandparents to the museum too for some inter-generational bonding!


Tales of Old Singapore Craft Workshops
19 Mar (Fri) | 10.30am–12pm | The Salon, Level 1 |
$30 per trio or $22.50 per grandparent-parent-child trio | Age 7 – 9 with parent/grandparent

19 Mar (Fri) | 2.30–4pm | The Salon, Level 1 |
$30 per trio or $22.50 per grandparent-parent-child trio | Age 10 – 12 with parent/grandparent

Bring your grandparents to the museum on Flashback Friday to discover toys they used to play with and local places of interest they frequented. Roll up your sleeves to create a classic board game or produce a woodblock print of these iconic buildings.

Each family will be given 1 set of craft materials, “My Family’s Stories” Kit and NMS Easy Guides. The craft projects for the morning and afternoon sessions are a board game and woodblock print, respectively.

Limited spaces available due to safe management measures. Visit toos210319.peatix.com to register.
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Showtime Saturday #2:

Don’t miss our last few shows, and the chance to show off your very own picture-book as well!


I Wonder Picture-book Workshop
20 Mar (Sat) | 2.30–3.15pm & 4–4.45pm | The Salon, Level 1 |
$13 per adult-child pair | Age 4 – 8, simple creative writing and drawing involved

What did your family do when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Singapore – what changed and what stayed the same? Join us for a short visual storytelling session, and make your own little picture-book of your pandemic experiences as a family!

Each $13 ticket admits one child and one adult (parent or grandparent) only. Please purchase additional tickets if you have more family members coming along. Limited spaces available due to safe management measures.

You are encouraged to bring your own colouring materials for this workshop. Alternatively, you may wish to purchase a craft pack (sponsored by STAEDTLER) at $5.

Visit picturebook210320.peatix.com/ to register.

This programme is based on I Wonder, a picture-book written and illustrated by Lynn Wong and family, and presented in conjunction with NMS’ special exhibition, Picturing the Pandemic at the basement level.

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Stay-home Sunday:

Have fun at home with our online videos and craft templates, and after that… pack your school bag to get ready for Term Two!


#MuseumfromHome: Get Curious!
Recommended for families with children aged 1 to 10 years

A timeless repository of online resources and programmes developed by the National Museum for families to enjoy the #MuseumFromHome. Gather materials around the house and follow our craft video tutorials to make your own toys, engage in music and movement activities inspired by our Early Learning Resources, and more.

Click here for the full details!

Family Time

Visit our permanent galleries with your little ones and play spot-the-artefact! Our colourful Early Learning Resources introduce pre-schoolers to our artefacts according to the themes of Numbers, Colours, and ABCs. Available at $8 per set from the Museum Label shop. For more children's activity booklets, click here.

Museum guide

Download our museum guide (English, Chinese, Bahasa Melayu, Tamil) to find out about the many treasures in our various galleries. In this guide, you will also find the floor plan for easier navigation. Enjoy your visit!