Learning Journeys
The Gem Museum offers Singapore’s only gem science Learning Journey — curriculum-mapped to the MOE syllabus, hosted inside a working gemological institute, and designed to make science tangible. Students do not just read about minerals. They observe them under gemological microscopes, watch them glow under UV light, and take home a specimen they identify themselves.
Primary School Programme
Earth’s Hidden Treasures
A curriculum-aligned gem science Learning Journey for Primary School students
1
Introduction — What is a Gem?
Ground Floor · 10 min
Students classify specimens as living or non-living, mineral or rock. Introduction to the concept of diversity in non-living materials and what makes a gem different from an ordinary stone.
▸ P3 Diversity of Living & Non-Living Things
2
Microworld of Gems
Floor 2 · 20 min
Students observe real gem specimens under gemological microscopes. They compare transparency and crystal structure across specimens and record observations on a structured worksheet. Transparent, translucent, and opaque classifications are introduced here through direct observation.
▸ P3 Diversity of Materials · P4 Matter & Properties
3
UV Darkroom Experience
Floor 3 · 15 min
Students observe how different gems respond to ultraviolet light — some glow, some do not. They explore how light interacts differently with various gem materials and discuss why fluorescence occurs in some specimens and not others.
▸ P4 Light & Energy · Transparent / Translucent / Opaque
4
Gem Discovery Activity
Ground Floor · 15 min
Hands-on identification activity. Students apply what they have learnt — colour, transparency, and crystal form — to identify their own specimen. Hardness as a property is introduced and explained here, along with an important gemological note: hardness testing is a destructive method and should never be used on precious stones. Each student keeps what they find.
▸ Science Process Skills · Observation · Classification
5
Debrief & Q&A
Ground Floor · 10 min + 5 min transit
Facilitated debrief connecting each station back to syllabus concepts. Students share findings and ask questions. Teachers receive a post-visit activity sheet to continue learning in class.
▸ Scientific Inquiry · Communication of Findings
Learning Outcomes
- Classify materials by observable physical properties including hardness, transparency, and crystal form
- Compare physical properties of solid materials and understand how properties determine use
- Observe and describe how light behaves differently with transparent, translucent, and opaque materials
- Apply science process skills — observation, classification, and communication of findings
Duration
75 minutes
Including floor transitions
Fee
$25 / student
+ 9% GST · Min. 15 students
Location
9 Perak Road
5 min walk · Rochor MRT Exit B
Secondary School Programme
The Science of Gems
An applied science Learning Journey for Lower Secondary students — Sec 1 & 2 (G1 / G2 / G3)
1
Gemology as Applied Science
Ground Floor · 10 min
Introduction to gemology as a discipline that applies physics, chemistry, and geology to the study of minerals. Students learn how professional gemologists approach identification and valuation.
▸ Nature of Science · Science in Society
2
Gem Lab — Density, Specific Gravity & Refractive Index
Floor 2 · 25 min
Students observe professional gemological instruments — refractometers, hydrostatic balances — set up and demonstrated live. They see how density, specific gravity, and refractive index are measured in practice, connecting classroom concepts to real-world identification work.
▸ Density · Specific Gravity · Light & Refractive Index
3
Microworld — Crystal Structure & Inclusions
Floor 2 · 20 min
Gem specimens are set up under gemological microscopes for students to observe in turn. A guided walkthrough highlights crystal structure, inclusions, and growth patterns, connecting what is visible to the particulate nature of matter and how atoms arrange in solids.
▸ Particulate Nature of Matter · Crystal Lattice
4
UV Darkroom — Fluorescence
Floor 3 · 15 min
Students observe fluorescence in gem specimens under UV light and explore the physics behind it — energy absorption and emission. They compare natural and lab-grown specimens and discuss why some gems fluoresce while others do not.
▸ Light · Energy Absorption & Emission
5
STSE Discussion — Ethical Sourcing & Lab-Grown Gems
Floor 3 · 15 min + 5 min transit
A facilitated discussion on the real-world implications of gem mining — environmental impact, labour conditions, and the rise of lab-grown alternatives. Students connect science to society and sustainability, and debate the trade-offs involved.
▸ STSE · Sustainability · Science, Technology & Society
Learning Outcomes
- To know how to measure and apply density and specific gravity to identify unknown specimens
- Use refractive index as a physical property for material identification
- Connect crystal structure to the particulate nature of matter
- Describe fluorescence in terms of energy absorption and emission
- Evaluate science-technology-society-environment (STSE) issues relating to gem mining and lab-grown alternatives
Duration
90 minutes
Including floor transitions
Fee
$30 / student
+ 9% GST · Min. 15 students
Location
9 Perak Road
5 min walk · Rochor MRT Exit B
Pre & Post-Visit Support
- Pre-visit briefing notes for teachers — syllabus connections and vocabulary preparation
- Student observation worksheets provided on the day
- Post-visit activity sheet for classroom follow-up
- Available for teacher pre-visits on request
Programmes created and designed by certified gemologists. The Gem Museum is Singapore’s only dedicated gems and minerals museum, housing professional-grade gemological equipment and an extensive specimen collection built over decades of field sourcing.
Book a Learning Journey
We recommend booking at least 4–6 weeks in advance. Get in touch and we will confirm availability and send a booking form.
Or email us at info@gem.com.sg · +65 8992 8659
Singapore Museum Roundtable Member · National Heritage Board Partner · Programmes designed by certified gemologists
