Program overview
Poetic adventures is a Stage 2 English excursion where students create an illustrated digital poem inspired by Field of Mars Reserve. Working in pairs with an iPad, students build descriptive vocabulary through sensory observations and compose a five-senses poem from the perspective of a miniature character.
Students photograph bushland subjects from the character’s viewpoint, then use iMovie to sequence images, record narration, add titles and select audio. Their completed multimodal poems combine imaginative writing, photography and digital storytelling for an audience.
This program is also available for Stage 3 and as a Poetic adventures incursion.
Learning intention
- We are learning to compose and publish an illustrated poem from the perspective of a miniature character.
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.
Poetic adventure
Working in pairs, students collect a poetry toolkit and iPad and learn the workflow for planning, writing, photographing and producing their poem. A guided sensory sit spot helps students notice sights, sounds, textures and smells and build a bank of precise adjectives and descriptive language.
Students compose and refine a five-senses poem from the viewpoint of a miniature character, organising ideas into lines or stanzas and experimenting with imagery and selected poetic devices. They then use macro photography, framing, focus and low camera angles to create images that strengthen each line and communicate the character’s perspective.
iMovie studio
Back at the centre, students sequence their photographs in iMovie, record narration and add titles, audio and credits to publish a cohesive multimodal poem. They share and reflect on their work, and completed products are returned to the school through Google Drive.
Suggested timetable
Time |
Activities |
| 9.45–10.30 | Introduction, toilets, crunch and sip or recess |
| 10.30–12.30 | Poetic adventure: location scouting, poem development and macro photography |
| 12.30–1.00 | Lunch and toilets |
| 1.00–2.00 | iMovie studio: visuals and audio |
| 2.00–2.15 | Pack up, toilets and depart |
Syllabus outcomes and content
Students will learn to
- collect and use precise environmental and sensory vocabulary
- compose poetry for an imaginative purpose and a familiar audience
- use sensory language, simile and personification to create imagery
- represent a minifigure perspective through words and photographs
- draft, review and refine lines of poetry
- select photographs and other multimodal features that add meaning
- use camera position, framing and focus to represent a miniature viewpoint
- combine written, spoken, visual and audio elements in a digital text
- collaborate to create and review a completed multimodal poem
The excursion directly supports the English K–10 Syllabus (2022) by providing an authentic context for vocabulary development, imaginative writing and multimodal composition.
English K–10 Syllabus (2022)
Vocabulary
Outcome
- EN2-VOCAB-01 – Builds knowledge and use of Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary through interacting, wide reading and writing, and by defining and analysing words
Content addressed
Learning and using words
- Build personal Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary through social and learning interactions, reading and writing
Creating written texts
Outcome
- EN2-CWT-01 – Plans, creates and revises written texts for imaginative purposes, using text features, sentence-level grammar, punctuation and word-level language for a target audience
Content addressed
Text features for multiple purposes
- Select and use multimodal features to add meaning
English K–10 Syllabus © 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
Essential information
Cost, class numbers and booking
Cost
DoE cost $27 per student – GST free
Non-government school cost $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
Field of Mars Reserve social story
Help Year 3 and 4 students understand what may happen before, during and after an excursion at Field of Mars Reserve.
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 Poetic adventures excursion to support descriptive vocabulary, sensory writing, imagery and nature-inspired multimodal texts.
- Field of Mars Reserve environment fact sheet – Explore the bushland students use for sensory writing, photography and poetic inspiration.
- Eucalypt forest ecosystems fact sheet – Learn about trees, shrubs, leaf litter, rocks, animals and connected food webs.
- Plant fact sheets – Explore native plants that can inspire descriptive language, imagery, similes and metaphors.
- Leaf litter habitat fact sheet – Discover small forest-floor details suited to sensory description and close-up photography.
- Rock and log habitat fact sheet – Explore sheltered places, textures and small-scale features that can inspire imaginative writing.
- 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 English excursion using our online booking form.
Learning resources
Explore online lessons and digital resources that support descriptive language, nature observation and multimodal text creation.
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.
Digital woodlands excursion
Use iPads to photograph natural features, apply composition techniques and create a collaborative digital photo book.