A night at the Museum

Mr Lim Cheng Puay, Scientific Manager from the museum enthralling the students about the lives of crabs, including the Japanese spider crab

It was a scene reminiscent of the movie "Night at the Museum where school children chattered animatedly as they gazed at lifelike exhibits at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM). The Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (Kellock) students and their teachers, numbering more than 100, were hosted by LKCNHM on 25 May, with the visit culminating in an exciting sleepover at the museum.

Beginning at 6pm and ending at 11am the following day, the Night@the Museum outreach event aimed to achieve the dual purpose of instilling leadership skills in the students, and also educate them about biodiversity in Singapore and Southeast Asia, beyond what is learnt from textbooks.

The programme began with an insightful tour of the gallery conducted by the museum guide. To further engage the students, the museum conducted two workshops where they had to achieve their tasks blindfolded. One workshop required the students to distinguish different substances using only their sense of smell; while the other workshop had the students relying on their sense of touch to identify different organisms along the way.

The students preparing for bed time after an exciting evening at the museum

Besides providing a thrilling avenue for learning and interacting, it is hoped that the students will take away key messages on biodiversity and the fragility of the ecosystem, and instil a sense of responsibility in protecting and conserving nature.