NIE ACTIVITY
GEOGRAPHY CONNECTIONS
This yearlong series is presented in collaboration with the Connecticut Geographic Alliance. For more information about NIE visit www.courantnie.com or call 241-3144.
THE COUNTRY OF
SINGAPORE
By: Laura Krenicki
William J. Johnston Middle School,
Colchester, CT
City View
Have you ever heard of a Merlion? This mythical
creature has the head of a lion and the body of a fish
and is the mascot of the country of Singapore!
Merlion
Located at the tip of Malaysia and near Indonesia,
Singapore is a small island country of only 268
square miles, which is about 3 ½ times the size of
Washington DC. Interestingly, its capital city is also
Singapore! Singapore is a cultural blend of people
from Southeast Asia, so a visit would not be complete
without seeing the cultural areas of Chinatown,
Little India and Kampong Gelam. It is warm and
humid in Singapore, and since it is located almost
at the equator it is no surprise. Singapore is a hub
of international business, and since so many people
speak Malay and English, it is a great place to visit for
work or play. Some of the favorite local dishes are
the chicken satay (seasoned and grilled and served
on a stick) and the popular chili crab (hard-shell crab
cooked in a tomato/chili sauce). Singapore mainly
exports electric & electronic equipment, machinery,
mineral fuels/oils, and organic chemicals to the United
States. Did you know that there are over five million
people in the country? It is a small country compared
to many others, but they provide many
goods and services and have many
cultural festivals. In fact, if you were to
visit, you’d be able to see a restored
Merlion fountain and the dazzling light
show!
Chicken Satay
TAKE 5
Location: Singapore is located latitude 1º 14´N
and longitude 103º 55´E, at the tip of Malaysia
and near Indonesia.
Place: The main island of Singapore is
surrounded by 63 smaller islands, and most of
the local people come from Malaysia, China,
and India.
Human/Environment Interaction: The people of
Singapore value their natural resources and have
wildlife reserves, gardens, and marinas. Along
the waterfront, their goal is to create a “city in a
garden!” They also have the largest marine-life
park in the world.
Movement: The people of Singapore come from
many different regions, which is why it is such
an “international” country. In addition, the port
makes it possible for it to be a major world-
trading center.
Region: Since Singapore is in a tropical region;
the weather is hot and sunny almost all year.
There is heavy rain during the two monsoon
seasons.
DID YOU KNOW?
• The name Singapore is derived
de d from
fr the he word
d “Singapura” or “Lion City?” The legend is that
a Sumatran prince saw a beast that looked like a lion when he first set foot on the island in the
14th century. This is the basis for the mythical Merlion!
• The Singapore national flower is the Vanda Miss Joaquim
orchid, and the National Orchid Garden contains about
20,000 orchids.
• There are four official languages in Singapore. The
languages are Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and English, with
the national language being Malay.
• Southeast Asia’s first Universal Studios Theme Park is in
Singapore. Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid
MAP IT!
Singapore is a very small country, but did you know there are some countries smaller
than Singapore? See if you can locate these tiny countries on a world map:
Vatican City Grenada Andorra
Liechtenstein Nauru San Marino
Malta St. Kitts & Nevis Maldives
Monaco Barbados Palau
Marshall Tuvalu
Islands Seychelles
Communityy Connections
Although Singapore is a small country, at one time, there was a Ford Factory (http://www.s1942.
org.sg/s1942/moff/index.htm), which used to make cars and other vehicles, but it is now a museum
of Singapore’s history. Did you hear about the London Eye during the Summer Olympics? The
Singapore Flyer, the world’s largest observation wheel, is similar to the London Eye where visitors
can see the beautiful lights of the city, Marina Bay, and miles beyond. Nearby is the Jurong Bird
Park (http://www.birdpark.com.sg/) where there are exotic birds and penguins, and is conveniently
next to the Crocodile Paradise Park! These National Wildlife Reserves are presented through ‘Living
Classrooms’, which take everyone on a learning journey that highlights the interdependency of
nature’s inhabitants and teaches us how to appreciate them. Interestingly, our Singapura, Lily, is the
only breed of cat that originated in Singapore!
National Flag:
Useful Links:
Singapore for Kids: http://www.singaporeforkids.com/
Explore Singapore: http://www.sg
Visit Singapore: http://www.visitsingapore.com/
Singapore National Parks: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/
NEXT PAGE - February 28th
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