L1 carpark closed
We are open
View All

Pre-School Programmes

All bookings for school visits should be made through NHB's new online booking system, BookMuseums@SG. Find out more on how to use BookMuseums@SG to plan for a school visit to the museum.
 

Pre-school Educators’ Preview Session

15 July 2025 (Tue) & 23 July 2025 (Wed)
4.30pm – 5.30pm
Exhibition Gallery, Basement

Join our exclusive educator’s preview to discover how to spark curiosity and learning on a self-guided visit to Once Upon a Tide – with our Waves of Wonder captions, Programmes Cart and an artefact hunt activity!

Register by 4 July 2025 (Fri).

Register now

Limited spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with maximum of 2 educators per school.


Self-Guided Visit to Once Upon a Tide

26 May 2025 – 9 Oct 2026
10am – 7pm
Exhibition Gallery, Basement

Ages 4 – 6

Pre-schools are welcome to explore our latest exhibition, Once Upon a Tide: Singapore’s Journey from Settlement to Global City, presented in commemoration of our nation’s 60th year of independence.

Children can embark on a fun journey to discover how the sea and the Singapore River have shaped our transformation over the years.

Planning Your Visit
To book your pre-school group visit, please submit a booking via our BookMuseums@SG app at least 10 days prior to your date of visit.

Recommended Visiting Periods
For the best experience and to avoid peak periods, we highly recommend scheduling your group visit on the following dates/times:

Time periods Available timeslots
(Each timeslot is for 2 hours)
1st & 3rd Thursdays of each month, during the following months:
  • Jul to Aug 2025
  • Mid to end Oct 2025
  • Jan to May 2026
  • Jul to Aug 2026

9.30am – 11.30am

Weekdays during the following months:
  • Sep to mid-Oct 2025
  • Nov to Dec 2025
  • Jun 2026
  • Sep 2026
  • Early to mid-Oct 2026
9.30am – 11.30am
1pm – 3pm
3.30pm – 5.30pm

Self-Facilitated Resources for Once Upon a Tide

Please see below for our range of resources that are designed to support a self-guided visit with children and explore the exhibition confidently.

Waves of Wonder Captions

The Once Upon a Tide exhibition features 11 child-friendly captions designed for children aged 4 and above. These interactive captions help children engage with selected artefacts through relatable content.

Each caption is presented across three spreads, in a lift-the-flap format:

  • Spread 1: Bite-sized information about the featured artefact
  • Spread 2: Interactive task / mission
  • Spread 3: Answer key

Educators can use these captions to plan self-guided visits with your students.

The Waves of Wonder captions are created by the National Museum of Singapore, with support from educators from My First Skool Limited.

Programmes Cart

Pre-school groups visiting the Once Upon a Tide exhibition can request to borrow a mobile Programmes Cart with three hands-on activities, designed for children with cognitive ages of 4–6 years.

Letter Explorer
Children will learn to spell historical names of Singapore. This activity supports children’s English language and literacy development.
Picture Puzzle Adventure
Children can complete up to 5 designs of jigsaw puzzles inspired by the exhibition’s artefacts (24-piece to 45-piece). This activity contributes to children’s discovery of the world.
Stamp & Create
Children can create their own postcard using self-inking stamps and imagine what they would bring on a voyage to Singapore. This activity supports the development of children’s motor skills and creative expression.

Please see below for specifications:

  • Size of cart: 1m(L) x 0.5m(W) x 1.2m(H)
  • Duration of use: Up to 2 hours (subject to availability)
  • Capacity: Up to 30 pre-schoolers at any one time
  • Recommended for use at Section 2 seating area within the exhibition gallery or at a dedicated spot outside the gallery, depending on crowd levels.
  • This cart is not for use outside the museum’s premises.

To book the Programmes Cart, please email nhb_nm_schools@nhb.gov.sg at least three (3) weeks before your visit.

The River Explorers Artefact Hunt

Play “I-Spy” with The River Explorers artefact hunt activity! Discover how the Singapore River connects our island to the world around us.

Download a digital copy of The River Explorers activity PDF below.

Download here

Limited printed copies in A4 size are also available for borrowing. Please email nhb_nm_schools@nhb.gov.sg for enquiries.

Pre-school groups must have a valid booking through the BookMuseums app to visit the Once Upon a Tide exhibition to be eligible for complimentary Milo drink redemption, courtesy of Milo. Our Programmes Officer will distribute the drinks to your group at the museum. Limited to one drink per pre-school student, while stocks last.

Note: This offer is exclusively for school group visits using The River Explorers hunt activity only.


Be a Young Toymaker: Digital Edition

Be a Young Toymaker

01 Jan – 31 Dec
Ages 4 and up

Through an interactive game hosted on TinyTap, students can find out more about Chapteh, Zero Point and Bola Tin, and how children made and played these toys and games in the past. The game can be accessed through desktop or mobile app.

Interactive game

Find out more about how to play and use the game:

Educator's guide