National Junior College

Subject: Language Arts

Module: LA301 Greater Than the Sum
Holiday Homework Worksheet

Name: ____________________________
Class: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________

To initiate you into utilizing the lens of ‘structure’ to explore the different types of literal and
metaphorical structures in our everyday life, you are required to complete this holiday homework
package. This holiday package is a starting point for the discussion of how a neighbourhood is
structured and how the parts are held together to form the whole.

A. List of Holiday Tasks

1. Vocabulary Building – Structures and Place (Page 4 of this worksheet)
2. ‘Our Sense and Place’ Mini-Project (see below for instructions)
All items are to be completed by 13 January 2025 and submitted via Google Classroom by
5pm on 17 January 2025 (Friday).

B. ‘Our Sense and Place’ Mini-Project - Introduction

In this task, you will engage in two different ‘footsteps’ to explore the neighbourhood that you live
in and consider your own relationship with your neighbours and your neighbourhood. You will
document your observations and share what you have learnt about your neighbourhood with your
JH3 classmates.

The instructions for each of the components can be found on the next page.

Compile the deliverables from each task into one set of Powerpoint slides and submit your slides
to your LA3 Google Classroom by 5pm on 17 January 2025. Your LA tutors will share the Google
Classroom code with you in the first lesson of 2025.

Format for Powerpoint slides

Slide 1 Title Slide: Name, Class, Name of Neighbourhood (e.g. Tampines)

Slide 2 Footstep 1: Annotated Map of Neighbourhood
Slide 3 Footstep 2: Photos from Neighbourhood
Slide 4 Footstep 2: Paragraph Write-up of Character of Neighbourhood.

1
 Footstep 1: Creating Neighbourhood Maps

In this footstep, you will be creating a map of your neighbourhood. The purpose of this activity is
for you to think about your own relationship to your neighbourhood and to share something about
your life with other students.

Instructions:
1. Sketch a map of your neighbourhood, as you see it through your eyes. Your place could be
your neighbourhood or a route around your neighbourhood that you regularly travel—by
foot, by bike, by car, or any other way. This map does not have to be “accurate” or similar
to other maps that exist.
2. You can create this map digitally or by hand. Do not use Google Maps or a similar online
mapping service to represent your neighbourhood.
3. Annotate your map with THREE interesting anecdotes or memories that are associated
with specific locations on your map. For example, you can mark out a road where you first
learnt to ride a bicycle or where you scraped your knee on the sidewalk.

Here’s an example of how your map and annotations should look like.

Example of map with annotations:

When I was 10, a dog chased me

around the park, sparking a deep
fear of dogs that lingered for
many years. It wasn’t until I began
playing with my friend’s dog that I
finally conquered that fear.
I once slipped and fell face
first on the floor at the wet
market. The experience was
so traumatic that I’ve
dreaded going to wet markets
ever since.

Before my cousins moved out of

our neighbourhood, we used to
play badminton at the CC every
weekend. It was a wonderful way
for us to bond as a family.

2
Footstep 2: Taking Neighbourhood Walks

In this footstep, you will take a walk in your neighbourhood or local area and share what you notice
when you slow down and look closely.

Instructions:
1. Take a walk (or a few walks, at different hours or days of the week) around your neighbourhood
and fill in your observations on key aspects of your neighbourhood, in as much detail as
possible, on Annex A on page 5.
2. Take photos of at least 4 – 5 different significant aspects that contribute to the character of your
neighbourhood.
3. Choose 3 – 4 photos that you feel best represent the character of your neighbourhood. Provide
some brief captions to describe what the photos show. You must be featured in at least one
of the photos that you submit.
4. On the next slide, write a short paragraph to explain how the photos that you have chosen
represent the character of your neighbourhood.

You may use the vocabulary from the vocabulary building task to describe the character of
your neighbourhood.

You may include some of the following points in your paragraph:

• How do these aspects contribute to the character of your neighbourhood?
• What do you like about these aspects? What are some experiences or memories that
you have associated with these aspects?
• What have you observed about the nature of the activities that are carried out in this
part of your neighbourhood? How do these activities help to define the character of
your neighbourhood?

You may refer to Annex B for writing samples that summarise the appeal of specific places in
Singapore.

3
C. Vocabulary Building – Structures and Place

Look up the definitions of the following words that describe the character of a place. You should
check the dictionary (Merriam-Webster, Oxford, Cambridge online dictionaries) and note the
meaning(s) of these words as well as how they are used. Write these words and their definitions in
your LA journal.

Vocabulary Words

1. Accessible
2. Affluent

3. Age-Friendly
4. Bustling

5. Classy

6. Congested
7. Diverse

8. Dreary
9. Dynamic

10. Flourishing

11. Modest
12. Nostalgic

13. Opulent
14. Picturesque
15. Pristine

16. Quaint
17. Tranquil

18. Vibrant

4
Annex A: My Neighbourhood Observations
For each of the following, consider quantity and type. You should fill in at least 4 to 5 rows. You
should capture these observations in the photos that you take.

Aspect / Domain Observable Features / Characteristics & Details

1 Residential Buildings

2 Schools

3 Recreational Facilities

4 Retail Outlets

5 Shared / Common Spaces

6 Green Spaces

7 Vehicles

8 Demographic

9 Happenings / Activity

10 Appearance

5
Annex B: Sample Descriptions of Place
*Note: You are expected to know the words that are bolded and underlined. You should look
up the meaning of these words if you do not know them.
Excerpt 1
Bugis is diverse in its sights and experiences. What was once a port for pirates and quarters for
prostitution has transformed exponentially into an artsy precinct with new developments like
Andaz, the National Design Centre and the modern National Library branch. It is also a place
where people, community and businesses have helped each other through shared tribulations.
Its 'kampung spirit' shone during Singapore's 'circuit breaker' period, thanks to local businesses
like Good Luck Beerhouse, which has been lending a helping hand to many fellow food and
beverage businesses on the street. It is also artsy, consisting of the kaleidoscopic back alleys
that make up Gelam Gallery, independent art space Coda Culture, and retro cinema The
Projector, to name a few. Bugis proves that Singapore is about far more than skyscrapers.

Adapted from ‘Bugis has been named one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world’, Dewi
Nurjuwita. Time-Out Singapore, 6 October 2020.

Excerpt 2
Tampines is a vibrant town located in the Tanah Merah geographical region, along the north-
eastern coast of the East Region of Singapore.

Once the home of farmers and villagers in squatter settlements, the town is now a bustling
planning and residential area with all the amenities and conveniences of modern
Singapore. Underpinned by a robust public transport network, Tampines is a mature estate
that is known for its proximity to Changi Airport and Changi Business Park, Our Tampines Hub
– the country’s first-ever integrated community centre and lifestyle hub – as well as its many
parks and gardens.

The town also features unique spaces that support creative self-expression in the community
while incorporating educational elements. The Tampines Cultural Hub is one of such spaces.
This hub features an iconic circular walkway and a metallic sculpture. There is also the Graffiti
Walk, which allows residents a chance to showcase their artistic talents creatively in chalk; the
91 Exchange, where residents can set up weekend shops for marketing their own goods; and the
Sensory Garden, Maze Garden and Green Belt which provide horticultural garden spaces for
residents who want to be one with nature.

Adapted from “Tampines: Livable, Well-Connected Regional Centre in the East”, Maelyn Lagman.
Ohmyhome, 23 July 2024.

6
Excerpt 3
Ang Mo Kio is a neighbourhood that is a nostalgic respite from urban hecticness. I have long
enjoyed the urban sanctuary of Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West that is the Kebun Baru
Birdsinging Club. On Sundays, bird owners would gather and hang their bird cages from the tall
poles, and the melodious singing of various birds makes visitors feel closer to nature. Such
distinctive heartland charm is also felt in the presence of void deck convenience stores, helmed
by elderly couples who have been running the business for years. My favourite landmark is the
dragon playground at Avenue 3 with its terrazzo-tiled head and tail, and a body of coloured steel
rings. It reminds me of the simplicity and tranquility of childhood, without worries and stress.

Adapted from ‘Neighbourhood Nostalgia’, Adeline Ang. HDB’S My Nice Home, 18 March 2020.

Excerpt 4
What truly sets Bukit Timah apart is the lifestyle it offers residents. Besides having all the
conveniences of city living, Bukit Timah exudes an inimitable charm and serenity that cements
its preference among the affluent. Bukit Timah’s distinct appeal stems in large part from its
greenery. While much of Singapore has long transformed into an urban metropolis, Bukit Timah
remains carpeted in lush landscapes. The area features several parks and green spaces, one of
them being the sprawling 163ha Bukit Timah Nature Reserve – Singapore’s first nature reserve
and home to Bukit Timah Hill, the nation’s highest natural peak. More parks lie nearby, such as
Bukit Batok Nature Park, Hindhede Nature Park and the Singapore Botanic Gardens, which is
a Unesco World Heritage Site. Surrounded by these green lungs, residents of Bukit Timah are
afforded a luxury that not many Singaporeans can claim: a tranquil, verdant environment that
provides a sanctuary from the fast-paced, hustle and bustle of urban living.

Adapted from “Luxury living in the new heart of Bukit Timah”. Yahoo Finance, 25 March 2024.

Excerpt 5
My neighbourhood is greatly altered. When I heard the news that the Ghim Moh hawker centre
and market is going to undergo major renovations and lose the façade that it had for the past 30
years, my heart mourns the approaching loss of one of the last stomping grounds of my
childhood. This is the price we pay for living in a land-scarce country where constant urban
redevelopment is the norm.

The book and stationery store in Ghim Moh that my brother James and I used to frequent as
kids, closed 4 years ago after 30 over years in business. All that stands in its stead is a beauty/spa
shop. I also used to attend the Raffles Girls Primary School because it was located just around
the corner from the Ghim Moh estate. I knew every nook and cranny of the school and played
along the longkangs that skimmed the perimeter of the school. That school building too has been
torn down and in its place are new buildings that are additions to the Henry Park School.

7
 Recently, I noticed that a big shady tree just outside of the Ghim Moh market had been removed
and in its place stood a skinny scrawny tree that could not shade the little dog that was sitting
under it, desperate for some shade in the scorching mid-day sun. I asked the shopkeeper close-
by about this change, and he said, “They replace the trees every few years because they don’t
want the roots to crack the concrete. A very practical, logical answer. Very…Singaporean in
some sense.

There is a new playground now at the place where my brother and I used to play at. Gone are
the sand pits for building up sand castles and digging for treasure. In its place, are ‘safety-first’
rubber mats. And in the place of those lovable local-flavoured dragon structures and watermelon
play structures that I used to play in as a child, are pre-fabricated plastic and metal structures
that look like carbon copies of the playgrounds I see in Los Angeles.

It’s all very sleek, safe and effective, but I miss the grit. I would rather see the sweat of years
etched out on a wrinkled face than a smooth botoxed face devoid of expression and character.

Adapted from ‘Disappearing roots: remembering the S'pore of my childhood’, Corinne May.
Mothership. April 9 2014.