Documentary in a day excursion | Stage 2 English

Program activities

Activities may change to suit student needs, timing and weather conditions.

Documentary workshop

Students examine short documentary examples and identify how narration, visuals, text and sound communicate information and engage an audience. They learn the documentary workflow and explore the planning guides, filming checklists and success criteria they will use throughout the day.

Scriptwriting and field filming

Working in pairs, students plan the structure of their documentary and draft a concise informative script using habitat vocabulary and field observations. They review and revise their script against the planning guide and success criteria, then identify the footage required to illustrate and strengthen each section of the narration.

Students explore the reserve and practise camera shots, angles and movements before filming habitat features and living things. They make purposeful decisions about framing, focus and camera position while following their revised script and filming plan.

Editing and sharing

Students use iMovie to arrange footage, adjust clip length and record voice-over narration. They remove unwanted audio, add titles and captions, select suitable music and create a closing credits sequence.

Students export and share their finished documentaries, then reflect on how effectively the narration, visuals and sound communicated information about the natural environment. Completed videos are returned to the school through Google Drive.

Suggested timetable

Time	Activities
9.45–10.15	Documentary workshop
10.15–10.30	Toilets, crunch and sip or recess
10.30–12.30	Scriptwriting and mobile filmmaking
12.30–1.00	Lunch and toilets
1.00–2.00	Editing and sharing
2.00–2.15	Pack up, toilets and depart

Syllabus outcomes and content

Students will learn to

• identify how narration, visuals, text and sound communicate information in documentaries
• plan, draft, review and revise an informative script for a familiar audience
• use precise vocabulary to describe habitats and living things
• select camera shots, angles and movements to support narration
• sequence footage and combine spoken, visual, written and audio elements
• collaborate and refine a multimodal text during production
• reflect on how effectively a completed documentary communicates information

The excursion directly supports the English K–10 Syllabus (2022) through informative writing, oral communication and the creation of a digital multimodal text for an audience.

English K–10 Syllabus (2022)

Creating written texts – Informative purposes

Outcome

• EN2-CWT-02 – Plans, creates and revises written texts for informative purposes, using text features, sentence-level grammar, punctuation and word-level language for a target audience

Content addressed

• Create written texts that describe experiences and observations to connect with and inform an audience

Oral language and communication

Outcome

• EN2-OLC-01 – Communicates with familiar audiences for social and learning purposes, by interacting, understanding and presenting

Handwriting and digital transcription

Outcome

• EN2-HANDW-02 – Uses digital technologies to create texts

English K–10 Syllabus (2022)⁠ © NSW Education Standards Authority for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2022

Tier 2 and 3 vocabulary

audience, caption, cinematography, collaborate, communicate, documentary, edit, footage, habitat, informative text, narration, sequence, storyboard, timeline, voice-over

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.

Book this Stage 2 English excursion

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.

View location information

What students should bring

School sports uniform, backpack, medication, low-waste food, water bottle, sunscreen, raincoat, hat, sturdy shoes and a reusable name tag.

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