Applied Learning Programme (ALP)
Find out how the school empowers students to become future-ready innovators through STEAM+AI learning experiences that develop computational thinking, design thinking and the confidence to solve real-world challenges.
Programme Overview
Applied Learning Programme
At Yew Tee Primary School, our Applied Learning Programme (ALP) in STEAM+AI places student agency at the heart of learning. Our ALP is customised through a Two-Tier Programme:
Tier 1 provides age-appropriate, progressive curriculum for students across all levels, developing computational thinking, digital literacy, and innovative problem-solving (design thinking) competencies. Students grow progressively from building empathy and awareness to actively solving authentic community and environmental challenges, through innovative technological solutions.
Students progressively develop from basic empathy and awareness to actively solving authentic community and environmental challenges, through innovative technological solutions. YTPS’s ALP integrates STEAM + AI with Design Thinking through progressive Tier 1 development:
P1-P2: Foundational logical thinking, computational skills (Matatalab robots), basic Scratch programming, Design Thinking introduction
P3-P4: Intermediate skills with Smorphi robotics, Design Thinking challenges addressing real issues (recycling initiatives)
P5-P6: Advanced application of Design Thinking to solve real-world community issues, Sphero Edu, 3D designing and printing, machine learning and AI concepts
Tier 2 offers enhanced opportunities for students with greater passion and aptitude, through external competitions and programmes such as the National Thinkers Challenge, STEM Playground, Smorphi Robotics Design Challenge, and DiscovHer 2026.
Together, both tiers nurture every student's critical, adaptive, and inventive thinking, communication and collaborative skills, empowering them to contribute meaningfully to society as future-ready citizens in Singapore's Smart Nation initiatives and national AI strategy, positioning our school to develop future-ready capabilities in our students.
Key Programmes
ALP Project Work
ALP Project Work adopts the Design Thinking process to nurture confident and self-directed learners. Students develop 21st century competencies progressively from Primary 1 to 6 through an interdisciplinary thematic approach and STEAM + AI (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence) learning experience. Students share their ideas and work together on authentic problems to come up with their own innovative and practical solutions to meet the needs identified, share what they think and work through the process, together as team, to decide on the solution that would best address the problem.
Through Design Thinking, students ask questions and conduct their research for the various themes such as “Caring for Pets, Upcycling, Waste Management, Elderly Care and Sustainable Living”. In defining the problem, students will develop a greater awareness and ownership of challenges in society that they can help to solve. They make links across different areas of knowledge by generating, developing, and evaluating ideas and information for application to a real-world project task. During the process, students collaborate in a team and communicate their ideas in both written and oral forms in front of an audience. This project helps them learn independently, reflect on their learning and find creative solutions for problems they see around them.
Coding & Robotics
YTPS’s ALP integrates coding and robotics (STEAM + AI) with Design Thinking through progressive Tier 1 development:
P1-P2: Foundational logical thinking, computational skills (Matatalab robots), basic Scratch programming, Design Thinking introduction
P3-P4: Intermediate skills with Smorphi robotics, Design Thinking challenges addressing real issues (recycling initiatives)
P5-P6: Advanced application of Design Thinking to solve real-world community issues, Sphero Edu, 3D designing and printing, machine learning and AI concepts
ALP Tier 2 - DREAM Makers
The DREAM Makers Programme provides a platform for students to deepen their understanding of STEAM learning and the design thinking process and to develop 21st Century Competencies (21CC). Through hands-on learning, students will work collaboratively on real-world problems, particularly those related to environmental challenges, and design meaningful solutions.
As part of the programme, students will learn to use LEGO® Education SPIKE Prime, a hands-on learning tool that supports problem-solving, logical thinking, creativity, and teamwork through the building and testing of prototypes.
Makerspace@Recess
At YTPS, our Makerspace Programme supports STEAM and AI learning by providing students with opportunities to explore, create, and solve problems through hands-on experiences. Students learn to explore, think creatively and use technology meaningfully as they experiment, design, and build in a fun and supportive environment.
Conducted during recess, the programme features different themes each term. Activities may include engineering challenges, problem-solving tasks, and creating meaningful projects linked to school events and occasions such as National Day and Total Defence Day.
Through tinkering and exploration, the Makerspace Programme encourages our students to try new ideas as trailblazers, think critically as problem solvers, and contribute meaningfully as changemakers in both school and everyday contexts of application.
DiscovHER
DiscovHER is a programme held in celebration of the United Nations’ International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The programme aims to inspire and empower girls to explore opportunities in STEM by exposing them to the diverse pathways and real-world applications of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Through interactive experiences and engagement with industry professionals, our students are encouraged to develop curiosity, confidence, and a greater interest in innovation and problem-solving.
Our Primary 5 girls participated in DiscovHER, where they took part in a range of hands-on and engaging activities. Students explored concepts through activities such as cracking Caesar ciphers, creating slime using household materials, and learning about sustainable food through insect protein games. They also interacted with experts and partners from organisations such as NUS Civil & Environmental Engineering, United Women Singapore, Insectyumz, and AI Singapore, gaining valuable insights into different STEM fields and career pathways.
Through the programme, students were given opportunities to ask questions, explore new ideas, and experience STEM learning beyond the classroom in a meaningful and engaging environment.
Link to IG post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DWTbq8ajzI6/?igsh=M3BkajFoempjbGxj
Celebrating our students' achievements
National Thinkers challenge
National Thinkers Challenge is organised by Tao Nan School with the support of the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan (SHHK) and partners in promoting Design Thinking and teaching of Technology.
The objectives of the NTC are to:
Develop students’ 21st Century Competencies in critical and inventive thinking, communication and collaborative skills as well as to build their confidence, analytical and problem-solving competencies.
Encourage students to adopt a problem-solving mindset, and explore workable solutions so that they can be active contributors to our society and the community through solving authentic real world issues.
Introduce the concepts of Design Thinking (DT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies to primary school students with an intent to further the national posture of boosting Singapore’s Smart Nation capabilities.
Our school students have performed very well in this competition since we first joined the competition in 2023. Our achievements are as follow:
2023: Best Presentation Award
2024: Best Relevant Award
2025: Most Feasible and sustainable Award
Link to IG post:
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STEAM Playground
YTPS STEAM Playground provides a platform to prepare students for a technology-driven world. Introducing Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) to young learners nurtures natural curiosity into structured problem-solving skills. At this developmental stage, children absorb concepts through hands-on exploration, learning to view failure as a stepping stone rather than a dead end. Furthermore, STEAM education fosters essential soft skills like collaboration, communication, and adaptability as students work together on design challenges. By linking classroom lessons to real-world issues, STEAM learning ignite a lifelong passion for innovation.
Our achievements are as follow:
2023
Popsicle Bridge Challenge - 5th place in participation rate
Sea-rious Challenge - 2nd place in participation rate
2024
How Far Reel It Move - 3rd Prize in Primary School Category
STEM Playground Grand Finale - 2nd Runner Up
Link to IG post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DCxtzz-P7zX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
https://www.instagram.com/p/CzsIt0BvpjT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cuqz9bkgvrT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
