“I wonder where I can find saga seeds?” Dad asks.
“At the park!” suggests 7 year old Sofia.
“At the park?! That’s a great idea. Let me see which park shall we explore today!”
There Are Saga Seeds In Our Pockets! contributes to Outdoor Discovery and Exploration
With many of our children these days too pre-occupied with televisions and iPads, the outdoors has become an even more important play and learn spaces. It offers more than just physical benefits. In fact, it encourages cognitive and social and emotional development. It also opens up all their senses. They learn to see, hear, touch, smell, taste and even feel. Some of the skills develop through the outdoors are:
- observation
- communication
- listening
- analysis
- social and emotional
You will not be exhausted of the outdoor learning and discoveries you can do with this book. Here are just some places and activities you can explore with the Saga Seeds book:
- Malay Heritage Centre: Mahir and his preschool friends go on an excursion to the Malay Heritage Centre. You can take your children there too. Absolutely many things to discover at MHC, starting with the fact that it was once a palace belonging to a Malay Sultan. Do you know the name of this Sultan? You can find out from the book or from MHC. Admission is free for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents.
- Villages: Mahir and his best friend Aqil discover a village. Are there villages in Singapore? Where can you find a kampung house similar to the one in the book? What else can you find in a village? Look at the illustration on page 16 and 17 and have an extensive picture talk before you go on your discovery. Then explore based on your child’s interest. Take a trip across the causeway where possible.
- Ships and harbours: Our ancestors came here by ships. Where do you think the ships dock in Singapore? Can we see all the different types and shapes of ships? How does it work? What is a harbour?
- Sultan Mosque: Admire the architecture of this mosque from the outside and even from the inside. Observe all the intricate designs. You would have discovered that the dome-shaped roofs are not what it looked like a long time ago. Find out in the book on page 27. Ignite your child’s curiosity and discover together.
- Saga Trees and Saga Seeds: Where can you find these? Friends have reported finding saga seeds at around Jalan Tembusu (opposite of Tanjong Katong Primary School), Siglap Cemetery, Botanic Gardens, Fort Canning Hill, Bukit Timah Hill and Bukit Chandu. Look at the trees, the leaves, barks, pods, etc. Observe under a magnifying glass. Draw or record your findings.
- Nature Walks: Discover other aspects of nature such as rivers, and life in and around rivers, farm animals, trees such as bananas and coconuts and the list goes on.
- Heritage Trails: Kampong Gelam is an interesting trail to discover the many things mentioned in the book such as baju kurung, baju Melayu, batik and songket fabric, traditional games and many more. You can also explore other heritage trails besides Kampong Gelam. How about Geylang Serai or any places in your neighbourhood?
When you think back to your own childhoods, chances are some of your fondest memories are of outdoor places and activities. Talk with your child about these outdoor places and activities while having a picnic or discovering the park. Then go and explore together!
You can purchase the book, “There Are Saga Seeds In Our Pockets!” at our Ungu Pen boutique at East Village Mall, #01-101 or shop online. You can also download free resources here.
