Step into the vibrant streets of Ann Siang Hill with a hands-on mystery adventure that transforms kids into junior detectives! Blending Singapore’s rich heritage with playful learning, this activity invites children to solve clues, sharpen their observation skills, and explore hidden corners of Chinatown and Telok Ayer through the eyes of a young investigator.
Packed with excitement and purpose, this detective activity for kids is perfect for curious minds who love a challenge. As they explore Ann Siang Road, Club Street, and nearby historic landmarks, children uncover not only clues — but also stories that bring the past to life.
Whether you're planning a family weekend outing, a homeschool field trip, or a small group enrichment day, this Ann Siang Hill kids activity adds a layer of storytelling, movement, and engagement that makes learning stick — all while having tons of fun.
Location: Ann Siang Hill Park
Mission Brief:
Your child becomes a Junior Eco Detective tasked with solving the mystery of an ancient whispering well hidden deep in the city. But it only reveals its secrets to those who observe, explore, and think like real detectives.
🎒 Curriculum Links:
Science • English • Malay • Math • Social Studies • Emotional Development
Ages: 6–9
Time Needed: ~1.5 hours
Theme Focus: Environmental awareness • Heritage • Critical Thinking • Communication
- - -
🧩 Mission 1: The Whispering Well
Objective: Discover the hidden secret of the mysterious well at Ann Siang Hill.
Legend says the well can whisper—but only to children who slow down, stay curious, and truly notice the world around them.
- - -
🌿 The Story Begins...
Tucked between old shophouses and mossy stone paths lies an ancient well—nearly forgotten by grown-ups. But not by children. According to a centuries-old tale, this well once held messages from the earth, and it still waits patiently for focused young explorers who know how to listen with their hearts, not just their ears.
- - -
🕵️♂️ Your Mission:
Stand before the well. Touch the cool stone. Close your eyes.
What can you hear? A breeze? A drop of water? Your own heartbeat?
💬 Ask your child:
“Why do you think someone built this well long ago?”
“What do you think it would whisper if it could speak today?”
📖 English Language Tie-In
Story prompt:
“If the Whispering Well had a secret, what would it be?”
Encourage your child to write or draw the secret message they believe the well is hiding.
- - -
🌧️ Malay Language Tie-In
New words to explore:
- Perigi (well)
- Air (water)
- Hujan (rain)
- Rahsia (secret)
Simple sentence practice:
“Perigi ini ada rahsia. Apa rahsia itu?”
("This well has a secret. What is that secret?")
- - -
✅ Learning Themes in Disguise:
- Practicing stillness and mindfulness
- Encouraging imaginative storytelling
- Introducing historical thinking (“Why was this built here?”)
- Building Malay vocabulary in a meaningful setting
- - -
🧩 Mission 2: The Clue Beneath the Leaves
Objective: Investigate the tiny world hiding in plain sight — under leaves, along drains, behind rocks, and near plants. Nature always leaves a clue… if you know where to look.
🪲 Mission Brief:
Detective receives a tip: something small and mysterious was seen moving near the drains and bushes after the rain.
Some say it had wings. Others say it was green with six legs. One kid claims it left behind a trail of silver dots on a leaf.
There’s only one way to find out—a field investigation.
- - -
🕵️♂️ Your Mission:
As you walk along Ann Siang Hill (especially near the green trail areas), investigate:
- Under leaves and stones: any insects hiding?
- On wet surfaces: can you spot trails or movement?
- In the air: listen and watch for flying bugs or birds
- Leaf types: collect 2–3 fallen leaves (no plucking!) that are different in shape or size
💬 Ask your child:
“Why do you think bugs come out after the rain?”
“What would this bug say if it could speak?”
“Which leaf do you think is the oldest? Why?”
🧪 Science Tie-In (MOE Syllabus):
- Living & Non-Living Things: Identify bugs as living, leaves as once-living
- Plant Observation: Compare different types of leaves (shape, texture, color)
- Weather Effects: Observe how rain changes what we see in nature (mud, puddles, smell, moisture)
- Senses in Science: Use sight, touch, and sound to explore
- - -
📓 Optional Detective Notebook Activity:
- Draw the 3 different leaves
- Name one bug and describe what it looked like
- Write a short message: “I think this clue means…”
🎓 MOE Syllabus Connection:- Science: Senses, classification, effects of rain, living things
- English: Descriptive language, observational writing
- Character Ed: Respect for nature, handling insects gently
🧩 Mission 3: Measurement Mayhem
Objective: Compare lengths, heights, and distances using real-world clues found around Ann Siang Hill. A good detective always knows how long, how high, and how far.
📏 Mission Brief:
Detective receives a scrambled note from HQ:
“The key is under the object that is taller than a bench but shorter than a lamppost...
Only one clue remains: Three steps from the shortest tree.”
To crack this riddle, your child must measure the world around him — not with a ruler, but with his eyes, body, and brain.
🕵️♂️ Your Mission:
As you explore the area:
- Find three objects of different heights (e.g., a bench, a bush, a pole)
- Use body-based measuring (hand spans, foot steps, arm lengths) to estimate:
- Which is tallest / shortest
- Which object is about 1 metre high?
- How many steps long is the trail/path you’re on?
💬 Ask your child:
“Is this pole taller than you?”
“Can you find something shorter than your leg?”
“How many steps does it take to walk from this tree to that drain?”
📐 Math Tie-In (MOE Syllabus):
- Comparing lengths and heights using non-standard units
- Using terms like longer, shorter, taller, same height
- Understanding estimation and relative size
📝 Optional Detective Sketchpad Activity:
- Draw the 3 objects and label them as "Tall", "Taller", "Tallest"
- Create a “Clue Map” using steps as the unit to show how far things are
🎓 MOE Syllabus Connection:
- Math: Measurement (length/height), estimation using real-world objects
- English: Descriptive comparisons using adjectives
- Gross Motor / PE Link: Movement-based learning through walking and measuring
🌧️🧩 Mission 4: The Monsoon Clue
Objective: Investigate how rain changes the environment — and look for clues that appear only when the weather changes.
🌦️ Mission Brief:
As Detective crosses a slippery stone path, the sky darkens.
A drizzle begins. Raindrops patter on leaves. The scent of wet soil rises. And suddenly... a clue appears — written in water, vanishing as quickly as it came.
The Monsoon Clue is real. But it only reveals itself to those who can observe how rain transforms the world.
🕵️♂️ Your Mission (Do this after or during light rain):
- Look for puddles: What shapes do they make? Are any reflecting light or hidden objects?
- Touch wet vs. dry surfaces: What changes?
- Smell the air: Can you describe how it smells after rain?
- Observe how animals/insects behave: Fewer ants? Birds hiding?
- Spot water trails or dripping clues on walls and leaves
💬 Ask your child:
“What changed after the rain?”
“What can you see now that you couldn’t before?”
“If the rain could talk, what message would it leave behind?”
🧪 Science Tie-In (MOE Syllabus):
- Understanding weather effects (rain, wet surfaces, puddles, sound)
- Observing how water interacts with materials (soaking, flowing, dripping)
- Using senses to explore environmental changes
📓 Optional Notebook Challenge:
- Draw a “Before and After Rain” scene
- Record how the ground, leaves, or drains changed
- Write a short rain message (e.g., “I saw a puddle shaped like a moon!”)
🎓 MOE Syllabus Connection:
- Science: Weather, water, changes in the environment
- English: Descriptive sensory language
- Art: Drawing weather or nature effects
- CCE: Appreciation for nature and staying safe in wet conditions
🧩 Mission 5: The Final Trial of the Secret Keeper
Objective: Complete the final physical and mental trial to earn your place as an official Secret Keeper. This mission combines movement, memory, and reflection.
🗝️ Mission Brief:
The journal flips to its final page.
A faded message appears:
“A Secret Keeper is not just observant — they are strong in body, clear in thought, and loyal to the truth.
This final trial will test everything you’ve learned.”
To complete the mission, your child must revisit the clues, move with purpose, and reflect on all that he’s discovered.
🕵️♂️ Your Mission:
In a nearby open area (like the park steps or courtyard):
- Set up a “Trail of Clues” – retrace 3 locations from past missions (e.g., the Well, the Shophouse, the Garden)
- At each spot, complete a movement challenge + memory recall:
- ✅ Clue 1 – The Well
- Action: 10 tiptoe steps in silence
- Question: “What did the Whispering Well teach you about paying attention?”
- ✅ Clue 2 – The Shophouse Shadows
- Action: Hop on one leg between 3 lines
- Question: “Which pattern or detail did you spot that no one else did?”
- ✅ Clue 3 – The Garden of Secrets
- Action: Crawl or walk low like a bug under branches
- Question: “What living thing did you find that surprised you?”
- At the final stop, say this out loud:
“I am a Secret Keeper. I notice what others ignore. I protect the hidden stories.”
- - -
🎯 Learning Focus:
- PE: Balance, coordination, spatial movement
- Social Studies: Reflection on places, respect for heritage
- CCE: Confidence, resilience, values of responsibility and observation
📝 Optional Notebook Prompt:
- “My favourite moment was...”
- “One thing I noticed that others missed...”
- “If I could leave a clue behind for the next Secret Keeper, it would be…”
- - -
🎓 MOE Syllabus Connection:
- PE: Movement skills, balance, and motor control
- Social Studies/CCE: Respect for places, personal growth
- English: Verbal and written reflection
🕵️♂️🔚 Detective Debrief: The Secret Keeper’s Final Report
Mission Status: COMPLETE
Field Agent: Detective ____
Code Name: The Listener
Clearance Level: Whisper-2
📜 Debrief Notes:
After 5 missions across the trails, stones, leaves, and rooftops of Ann Siang Hill, Detective has done what few can:
He slowed down.
He paid attention.
He listened when others rushed.
He noticed the clues hidden in shadows, leaves, raindrops, and silence.
But this journal isn’t just about the mystery. It’s about what you became through the journey.
💬 Ask Your Child:
- “Which mission was your favourite, and why?”
- “What was the hardest clue to solve?”
- “What’s something you saw, felt, or heard today that most adults probably missed?”
