Craft & Technology Department

Department Vision

Inquisitive Learners, Creative Innovators

Department Mission

To develop learners with an appreciation for design, art and culture, who are creative and resourceful when solving problems.

Department Direction

Our department is committed to nurturing inquisitive learners and creative innovators who can thrive in an ever-evolving world. By nurturing in Springfielders an appreciation for design, art, and culture, we aim to develop students who are not only creative and resourceful problem-solvers but also adaptable thinkers. In a BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, and Incomprehensible) world, the ability to think critically, embrace innovation, and apply design thinking is essential. Our approach equips students with the skills and mindset to navigate challenges with confidence, ensuring they remain resilient, adaptable, and forward-thinking in an increasingly dynamic environment.

Art Unit

At Springfield Secondary School, we believe Art is a way of seeing, thinking and being. Through making and responding to artworks, students engage with three big ideas that shape the discipline:

· Art helps us see in new ways,

· Art tells stories about our world, and

· Art influences how we live.

These ideas guide our students in connecting personal expression to broader cultural and societal narratives.

In Lower Secondary, all students undertake a two-year journey in Art that cultivates curiosity, creativity, and confidence. Lessons are centred on exploration and meaning-making across media, contexts, and themes. Students engage in two Core Learning Experiences:

CLE1: Making Thinking Visible with Drawing, where drawing is used as a tool for observing, visualising, and ideating, and
CLE2: Learning with Portfolio, which supports self-reflection and sustained learning over time.

In Upper Secondary, students who choose to pursue Art deepen their inquiry and skill development through electives at the G1, G2, or G3 level.

G1 Art focuses on CLE1: Building Portfolios and CLE2: Design Immersion, allowing students to explore design concepts and connect art to lived experiences.
G2 and G3 Art students engage in CLE1: Building Portfolios, CLE2: Art Journalling, and CLE2: Art Conversations, where students cultivate personal voice, artistic discipline, and the confidence to respond critically to visual culture.

Our programme aspires to nurture thoughtful, expressive, and culturally grounded learners who are ready to shape the world through the arts.

Design & Technology Unit

In Design and Technology (D&T), students are exposed to opportunities for them to develop skills and competencies which are inherent in design practices through designing and making. The design process in D&T is the key platform for students to make meaning of their learning, facilitated by their teachers.

The dispositions that promote design thinking are:

embrace uncertainties and complexities.
to be cognisant of and resolve real-world and complex problems.
relentless drive to seek out how things work.
to use doodling and sketching, and 3D manipulation of materials as a language for visualisation, communication and presentation.

In Lower Secondary D&T, students focus on the development of freehand sketching skills through idea generation and development and offer tactile learning experiences for pupils to construct prototypes of the developed ideas. The Lower Secondary D&T programme enable students to:

cultivate visual-spatial thinking through sketching, experimenting and prototyping using appropriate materials and basic hand tools/equipment/machines safely
develop an appreciation of function, aesthetics and technology in design through everyday products and their implication on sustainability
exercise judgements for design appropriateness with respect to the users, functionality and the environment
develop confidence and pride through turning ideas into physical objects

In Upper Secondary D&T, students dive deeper into designing and making, doing research to understand and define user needs, explore and develop design solutions, and prototype their ideas using basic hand tools/equipment/machines. The Upper Secondary D&T programme enable students to:

develop confidence, pride and tenacity through exploring real world design opportunities for which ideas are developed
develop the quality of mindfulness, empathy and sensitivity through improving aspects of their environment in everyday life
embrace complexities, uncertainties and the inherent social dimension of the design process when designing design opportunities
cultivate thinking through doodling and sketching/drawing
experiment and prototype ideas using appropriate materials and tools
build on their innate curiosity and ability to create
exercise judgements and make evidence-based decisions of technological, aesthetic and economic nature

Music Unit

The Music Programme is thoughtfully designed to develop every student’s musical capacity to express themselves confidently and meaningfully. Our curriculum focuses on nurturing critical listening, creative expression, cultural appreciation, and collaborative performance—core competencies that support the Stage 4 Learning Outcomes outlined in the National Music Syllabus.

Secondary 1: Foundational Musical Understanding and Rhythmic Creativity

In Secondary 1, students begin their musical journey by exploring the basic elements of music, with a strong emphasis on meter and rhythm. Through engaging hands-on lessons, they learn to compose 8-bar rhythmic pieces using body percussion and key musical elements such as solo, accompaniment, ostinato, call and response, and unison.

Students also develop their ability to improvise and perform collaboratively, honing group coordination and expressive timing. These learning experiences cultivate tenacity and diligence, aligning with both our school values and MOE’s Stage 4 Learning Outcome 2, which encourages students to express musical ideas and respond to others in an ensemble setting.

Secondary 2: Ensemble Performance and Cultural Exploration

In Secondary 2, students deepen their musical skills by learning to perform in three-part mixed ensembles, incorporating both voice and instruments such as the ukulele and keyboard. Emphasis is placed on tone production, expressive phrasing, and technical accuracy.

Students are encouraged to explore music across cultures and genres, broadening their appreciation for diverse musical traditions. This aligns with MOE’s Stage 4 Learning Outcome 1, where students are expected to demonstrate awareness and appreciation of music in local and global contexts. These experiences also support the Desired Outcomes of Education, as students become self-directed learners who take ownership of their learning and engage in creative expression.

Developing Musical Literacy and Contextual Understanding

Across both levels, students are introduced to essential musical concepts and encouraged to apply these in real contexts. In Secondary 1, students learn to analyse music using appropriate musical terminology, identifying elements such as rhythm, texture, form, and timbre. In Secondary 2, they explore the historical and cultural background of selected songs, enhancing both their analytical and interpretive abilities.

These components support students in developing the ability to understand, appreciate, and perform music with contextual and stylistic awareness, in line with the expectations of MOE’s Stage 4 Learning Outcome 2.

Nutrition & Food Science Unit

The Food and Consumer Education (FCE) programme for lower secondary students focuses on nurturing health-conscious and discerning consumers. It equips them with crucial life skills in food and nutrition, alongside practical consumer education. Through engaging activities, students learn to advocate for sustainable food consumption by making informed food choices and applying culinary science principles creatively in food preparation. This approach cultivates critical thinking and develops creative problem-solving abilities.

Building on the FCE foundation, the upper secondary elective Nutrition & Food Science (NFS) deepens students' understanding of nutrition, food science, and sustainable food consumption. NFS emphasizes knowledge, skills, and attitudes vital for 21st-century competencies. This is achieved through authentic, real-world applications, including:

• applying food science principles in food preparation

• developing hands-on practical skills and conducting food experiments

• modifying recipes and planning meals

Both FCE and NFS students will get the opportunity to participate in industry learning journeys to food manufacturing facilities or culinary institutes, offering insights into real-world applications of food science. Students can further hone their skills through external cooking competitions, providing a dynamic platform to apply their knowledge and creativity.

C&T Learning Fiesta

Every year, sometime in October, our Secondary 1 students embark on an unforgettable interdisciplinary adventure involving Art, Music, D&T, and NFS as part of the C&T Learning Fiesta. For example, last year’s experience—guided by popular Japanese and Korean-inspired cultural themes—was a celebration of collaboration, creativity, and cross-cultural appreciation.

This was no ordinary project—students took on the role of young designers for a fictional Maki-San sushi launch, crafting packaging for a brand-new “Sushi Bake” dish. They worked in teams, combining their artistic, design, culinary and musical expressions while developing 21st Century Competencies such as communication, collaboration and information skills.

The C&T Learning Fiesta enabled students to discover connections between Art, Design and Technology, Food and Consumer Education and Music. Through every crease fold, sushi bake, print pull and music beat, students proved that learning is most powerful when it is actively shared, interdisciplinary and joyful.

Learning Beyond the Classroom: Nutrition and Food Science

In Nutrition and Food Science, students step out of the classroom and into the real world, picking up essential life skills along the way. From understanding food commodities to budgeting and planning meals based on the themes: Food from Movies, students embark on an exciting and meaningful journey.

For some, visiting a supermarket to weigh and select loose groceries was a first. Along the way, they explored various food commodities and where our food comes from, discovering how global the food supply chain really is. With a fixed budget in hand, students collaborated to create dishes that were not only nutritious and delicious, but also thoughtful and inventive.

Back in the kitchen, they brought their ideas to life—executing recipes, applying both new and familiar techniques, and pushing the boundaries of what they thought they could do. The results were impressive, and the experience was rich with learning.

Through this hands-on adventure, students gained confidence, creativity, and a deeper appreciation for the everyday skills that make a big difference.

C&T Retreat — Learning never stops for our teachers!

The Craft & Technology department embarked on an inspiring retreat filled with creativity, innovation, and a dash of sweetness. Our journey began at Vivita, where we explored how design thinking can be brought to life through hands-on experiences. We saw firsthand how students could be empowered to brainstorm, prototype, and create through a variety of engaging mediums. The highlight? Designing our very own keychains, earrings, and bookmarks by upcycling plastic bags—turning waste into wonder!

The adventure continued at Ice Cream Chefs, where we treated ourselves to a behind-the-scenes look at the science of ice cream. From gelato to sorbet, we explored the different types of frozen delights and learned about the entrepreneurial journey behind the business. The owner’s candid sharing gave us fresh insights we hope to pass on to our students.

Beyond the learning, what made the day special was the camaraderie. Over sweet treats and warm conversations, we strengthened our bonds and left with hearts full and minds brimming with new ideas for our classrooms. A retreat to remember—equal parts fun, food, and future-ready inspiration!

Achievements & Highlights

ITE IgnITE Challenge

The Ignite Skills Challenge is an annual competition that introduces students to technical skills and provides insights into courses offered by ITE. Designed to be engaging and hands-on, the competition allows students to learn in a fun and memorable way.

This year, 36 of our Secondary 3NA and NT Craft & Technology students participated in 6 exciting challenges across three ITE campuses: Aroma Fantasy Challenge, Logistics Challenge, AirITE Adventure Awaits Challenge, Eggcellent Eggdiction, i Light ITE, and Crisis Management.

We are proud to announce that 3 teams excelled and secured a place in the IgnITE Skills Finals. Their dedication and hard work have placed them among the Top 10 Teams in their respective categories:

· Aroma Fantasy Challenge

· Eggcellent Eggdiction

· i Light ITE

Congratulations to our students on their achievements!