Program
Discover nature and creativity at Field of Mars Reserve! Students explore parts of the reserve, create flip book animations inspired by nature and learn 2D digital animation using iPads. They’ll animate natural objects, design bush scenes, and craft stop motion animations with natural materials. Finally, they’ll edit their work into nature-themed music videos, combining animation, sound, and effects for a unique learning experience.
Learning intention
- We are learning how to use digital tools to represent nature through animation.
Activities
Flipping
Students will be immersed in nature exploring the parts of the Field of Mars Reserve. During the walk, students will investigate the characteristics of the forest.
Inspired by nature, students will create their very first animation through the process of creating a flip book.
Animation studio
Students will delve into the realm of 2D animation using a Field of Mars EEC supplied iPad, learning how to animate inanimate objects found in nature.
Exploring digital animation techniques they will create their first electronic animation in the form of a digital flip book. They will learn how to animate 2D characters to create a bush scene with multiple animated elements.
Inspired by the artwork of Andy Goldsworthy students will learn how to create a stop motion animation using natural materials. Students will use iMovie to combine their separate stop motion animations. They will learn how to sequence, adjust timing, add effects, modify sound, and add appropriate background music to create their very own nature based music video.
All animations will be shared back to school via Google Drive.
This program is only available to NSW Department of Education school students.
One day workshop - Stage 2 and 3
2025
Term 4 - Week 7
Tuesday 25th November - capacity 40 students (0 spots remaining)
2026
Term 1 - Week 3
Tuesday 10th February - capacity 40 students (40 spots remaining)
Additional dates coming soon.
Maximum 4 students per school (DoE schools only)
Location
Field of Mars Reserve
Main location – including risk assessment, maps and track overview
Teachers or parents will need to drop off and pick up students.
Westminster Road alternate entrance
This entrance or exit offers access during severe high tides and heavy rainfall events that cause flooding on the main Pittwater Road entrance.
Essential information
| Cost |
$60 per student - GST free This will be processed through the student's home school. This program is only available to NSW Department of Education school students. |
| Transport | Schools are required to organise transport for students to and from the location. No vehicles are permitted into Field of Mars Reserve. |
| Staff | Teachers are not required to attend. |
| Bring | Sports uniform, backpack, medication, low-waste food, water bottle, sunblock, raincoat, hat, sturdy shoes, reusable name tag. |
| View | Preparing for your excursion |
| Welfare |
Participants will be walking during the day on an accessible boardwalk. Wheelchair accessible. May not suit recently unwell participants. For medical or special needs notify staff prior to program. |
| Extreme or wet weather | Program may be modified, postponed or cancelled due to predicted extreme temperatures, bush fire danger, heavy rainfall, high winds or dust storms. |
| Booking policy | Confirm student details 7 days in advance. |
| Cancellation fee |
Less than 4 weeks notice – full cost Weather or fire danger cancellation – $0 |
| Time | Activities |
| 9.15 | Arrival |
| 9.30 - 10.15 | Flipping |
| 10.15 - 10.30 | Recess |
| 10.30 - 12.30 | Animation studio |
| 12.30 - 1.00 | Lunch |
| 1.00 - 2.00 | Animation studio |
| 2.15 | Depart |
Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus (2024) - Stage 2
Visual arts
Outcome
- Makes artworks using art forms to represent subject matter and ideas, and describes ways artists convey ideas about their world to audiences through artworks CA2-VIS-01
Making: Artists represent their world through subject matter and ideas in artworks
- Represent subject matter and ideas in artworks, making choices based on own interpretations of the world
- Explore digital tools to make or manipulate still or moving images, text and/or sounds
- Explore balance, scale and proportion in compositions to represent subject matter and ideas
Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2024
Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus (2024) - Stage 3
Visual Arts
Outcomes
- Makes artworks in intentional ways to represent ideas about their world, and explains ways artists are influenced by contexts and how artworks are interpreted by audiences CA3-VIS-01
Content
Making: Artists represent their world in intentional ways through their artmaking practice
- Apply understandings of materials, digital technologies and processes to represent intended ideas in artworks
- Explore artistic conventions and ways to represent subject matter and ideas in compositions
- Demonstrate safe artmaking practices with respect for physical, social, digital and cultural safety
Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2024