Digital woodlands excursion | Stage 2 Creative Arts
Program overview
Digital woodlands is a Stage 2 Creative Arts excursion where students use iPads to explore nature photography in the bushland of Field of Mars Reserve. They learn how photographers use composition, focus, light, perspective and macro photography to represent the natural world and communicate ideas to an audience.
Working in pairs, students capture a portfolio of bushland images, select and edit their strongest photographs, and create a collaborative digital photo book. Each student also chooses one image to be printed, framed and delivered to school.
This program is also available for Stage 3 and as a Digital woodlands incursion.
Learning intention
- We are learning to use digital photography techniques to represent the natural world and communicate ideas to an audience.
Jump to: Program and curriculum | Essential information | Plan and prepare | Location | Related excursions
Program and curriculum information
Program activities
Activities may change to suit student needs, timing and weather conditions.
Nature photography workshop
Students examine examples of nature photography and discuss how images can tell stories, influence audiences and encourage people to value the natural world. They investigate how subject placement, framing, viewpoint and the relative size of objects create balance, scale and proportion within a composition.
Students learn techniques including subject focus, macro photography, light, leading lines, framing, perspective and the rule of thirds. They compare examples and explain how photographers use these techniques to represent natural subject matter and communicate ideas to an audience.
Field photography
Working in pairs, students photograph plants, animals, textures, patterns and other bushland features. They experiment with angles and viewpoints, apply composition techniques and explain the choices they make when creating each image.
Students may also complete creative photography challenges involving forced perspective, natural alphabets, patterns and carefully arranged natural materials.
Publishing
Students use selection criteria to identify and justify their strongest photographs before using digital editing tools to refine their images. Each student selects one photograph to be printed, framed and delivered to school.
Students collaborate in Book Creator to produce a digital photo book showcasing different photographic techniques. They organise and sequence images, design a cover and reflect on how their photography developed throughout the day.
Suggested timetable
Time |
Activities |
| 9.45-10.30 | Nature photography workshop |
| 10.30-10.45 | Recess |
| 10.45-12.15 | Field photography |
| 12.15-12.45 | Lunch |
| 12.45-2.00 | Publishing |
| 2.00-2.15 | Pack up, toilets and depart |
Syllabus outcomes and content
Students will learn to
- identify ways photographers represent the natural world and communicate ideas to audiences
- apply composition, focus, framing, perspective, light and macro photography techniques
- explore balance, scale and proportion when composing photographs
- make purposeful choices when selecting natural subjects and creating images
- select, edit, sequence and display digital photographs
- collaborate to create and present a digital photo book
- reflect on the development of their own photography
The excursion directly supports the Creative Arts K–6 Syllabus (2024) through nature photography, digital artmaking, appreciation and the presentation of artworks for an audience.
Creative Arts K–6 Syllabus (2024)
Visual Arts
Outcome
- CA2-VIS-01 – Makes artworks using art forms to represent subject matter and ideas, and describes ways artists convey ideas about their world to audiences through artworks
Content addressed
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
- Make artworks through collaboration with others
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
Tier 2 and 3 vocabulary
Essential information
Cost, class numbers and booking
Cost
DoE cost $27 per student – GST free
Non-government school $37 per student – GST free, minimum charge $750 per class
Term 1 non-government weeks 3 to 5 – DoE cost, GST free, minimum charge $750
Classes
Recommended maximum 4 classes, with up to 30 students per class.
Program costs
Program costs may change. If program costs change after you book, you will be charged at the original cost.
Booking policy
Confirm final student numbers and classes 7 working school days before the program.
Risk assessment and accessibility
Field of Mars Reserve risk assessment and location information – main location
The program includes bushwalking on uneven natural tracks. Some program areas at Field of Mars Reserve may be wheelchair accessible.
Students who are unwell should not attend.
Classroom teachers are expected to attend and actively supervise students throughout the excursion.
Notify Field of Mars EEC before the visit about medical, mobility, sensory, communication or other support needs so reasonable adjustments can be considered.
What students should bring
Weather, cancellations and rescheduling
The program may be modified, postponed or cancelled because of predicted extreme temperatures, bush fire danger, heavy rainfall, high winds or dust storms.
Cancellation or rescheduling with less than 30 school days’ notice before the booking date – $650
Cancellation with less than 14 school days’ notice before the booking date – full program cost
Cancellation due to unsafe weather or fire danger – $0
Plan and prepare for your visit
Digital woodlands social story
Help Year 3 and 4 students understand where they will go, how they will use iPads and what will happen during the excursion.
Preparing for your excursion
Find information about what students should wear and bring, transport, arrival procedures, safety and preparing classes for active outdoor learning.
Location
Field of Mars Reserve
Main location
Find risk assessment information, risk management advice, bus access details and walking track information for Field of Mars Reserve.
Extend student learning
Use these student-friendly fact sheets before or after the Digital woodlands excursion to introduce natural subjects, habitats, textures and patterns that can inspire students’ photography.
- Field of Mars Reserve fact sheet – Explore the bushland environment where students photograph plants, animals, textures and natural features.
- Eucalypt forest ecosystems fact sheet – Learn about the forest ecosystem students use as inspiration for digital photography.
- Plant fact sheets – Explore native plants with leaves, flowers, bark, colours, shapes and patterns suitable for close observation.
- Tree habitat fact sheet – Discover bark, branches, flowers, hollows and canopy features that can become photographic subjects.
- Leaf litter habitat fact sheet – Explore small forest-floor details suited to macro photography and close observation.
- Habitat fact sheet – Learn how living and non-living features create places where organisms can survive.
Learn with us
Book this excursion
Book this Stage 2 Creative Arts excursion using our online booking form.
Learning resources
Explore digital activities, social stories and classroom resources that support creative arts, nature observation and environmental learning.
Related Stage 2 excursions
Documentary in a day excursion
Plan, film and edit a short nature documentary using field observations, purposeful camera techniques and digital storytelling.
The art of wellbeing excursion
Use nature-based artmaking and mindfulness activities to explore wellbeing, emotions and connection to place.