Stage 2 students on the Poetic adventures excursion collecting sensory words and ideas in the bush at Field of Mars Reserve

Poetic adventures excursion | Stage 2 English

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.

Book this Stage 2 English excursion

Learning intention

Jump to: Program and curriculum | Essential information | Plan and prepare | Location | Related excursions

Stage 2 student using an iPad to photograph two minifigures in a shallow creek. Taking photographs to illustrate a poem
Two minifigures posed on a rock in a mossy natural area. Exploring perspective

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

adjective, alliteration, audience, compose, descriptive language, hyperbole, imagery, macro photography, metaphor, narration, onomatopoeia, perspective, personification, repetition, revise, sequence, simile, stanza

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.

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

Plan and prepare for your visit

An iPad displaying the Field of Mars Reserve general social story

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.

An iPad displaying the Preparing for your excursion page

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

Bushland track and eucalypt forest in Field of Mars Reserve, East Ryde, where the Poetic adventures excursion takes place

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.

Visiting Stage 2 teacher
"The program featured great opportunity to get outdoors but use the technology to engage students in poetry writing."

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.

Learn with us

An iPad displaying the Field of Mars EEC excursion and incursion booking form

Book this excursion

Book this Stage 2 English excursion using our online booking form.

An iPad displaying a Field of Mars EEC nature documentary learning resource

Learning resources

Explore online lessons and digital resources that support descriptive language, nature observation and multimodal text creation.

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.