Poetic adventures | Stage 3 | English excursion | Field of Mars EEC
Program overview
Poetic adventures is a Stage 3 English excursion where students collaborate to create a digital poetry product inspired by Field of Mars Reserve. Working in pairs with an iPad, students visit a range of outdoor locations to build tier 2 and 3 vocabulary and compose a five-senses poem from the perspective of a miniature character, then use photography and iMovie to publish an illustrated, narrated poem with titles and soundtrack.
Learning intention
- We are learning to compose an illustrated poem from the perspective of a miniature character.
Activities
Poetic adventure
Working in pairs, students collect their poetry toolkit and iPad and learn how to manage equipment and work efficiently in the field. Students are introduced to the planning template and the step-by-step workflow for writing, photographing and producing their final piece.
Students tune in to the bushland at Field of Mars Reserve through a guided sensory sit spot that focuses on sight, sound, touch and smell. Students build a bank of vivid adjectives and descriptive language to capture the natural features of Field of Mars Reserve.
Students compose lines of poetry from the perspective of a miniature character using a five senses structure and selected poetic devices. Students draft, refine and self-assess their work to ensure each line communicates a clear viewpoint and strong imagery.
Students learn how to take high-quality macro photographs that communicate small-scale perspective by positioning the camera at minifigure eye level. Students apply visual literacy strategies such as framing, focus and shot choices to create images that complement their poetry.
iMovie studio
Back in the classroom, students sequence images, record narration and add titles and audio to create a cohesive digital poem. Students finalise credits, export their work and share their completed multimodal poem with peers for reflection.
Completed products will be sent back to school via Google Drive.
This program is also available for Stage 2 and can operate as an incursion.
Location
Field of Mars Reserve
Main location – including risk assessment and risk management advice, bus map and track overview.
Essential information
Cost and details
Cost 2026 |
DoE $27 per student – GST free Non-gov $37 per student – GST free, min charge $750 per class Term 1 – Non-gov weeks 3 to 6 cost = DoE cost – GST free, min charge $750 |
Classes |
Maximum 4 classes with up to 30 students per class. |
Activities |
Activities may change to suit student needs, the selected site and weather conditions. |
Bring |
Sports uniform, backpack, medication, low-waste food, water bottle, sunblock, raincoat, hat, sturdy shoes, reusable name tag. |
View |
Preparing for your excursion |
Welfare |
Rugged bushwalking, limited wheelchair accessibility. 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 numbers and classes 7 days in advance. |
Cancellation fee |
Less than 30 working school days – $600 Less than 7 working school days notice – full cost Weather or fire danger cancellation – $0 |
Suggested timetable
Time |
Activities |
| 9.45 - 10.30 | Introduction, toilets and recess |
| 10.30 - 12.45 |
Poetic adventures - location scouting - poem development - digital photography |
| 12.45 - 1.15 | Lunch and toilets |
| 1.15 - 2.00 | iMovie studio |
| 2.00 - 2.15 | Pack up, toilets and depart |
Tier 2 and 3 vocabulary
Syllabus outcomes and content
English K-10 Syllabus (2022)
Vocabulary
Outcome
- Extends Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary through interacting, wide reading and writing, morphological analysis and generating precise definitions for specific contexts EN3-VOCAB-01
Content
Learning and using words
- Identify newly encountered words from interactions and wide reading, and use them in writing, discussions and presentations
Creating written texts
Outcome
- Plans, creates and revises written texts for multiple purposes and audiences through selection of text features, sentence-level grammar, punctuation and word-level language EN3-CWT-01
Content
Text features for multiple purposes
- Use word repetition and word associations as cohesive devices across texts
- Experiment with figurative language for effect and to engage the reader, including metaphor, hyperbole, oxymoron and allusion
- Create written texts that include multiple paragraphs with clear, coherent transition of ideas
- Choose multimodal features suited to a target audience and purpose, to reinforce and extend ideas
English textual concept
Perspective
Students understand that perspectives may differ and that these differences need to be considered
They learn that:
- perspective may be expressed in different ways including the values expressed and the form of expression
Other syllabus links
Learning experiences will also support but not explicitly teach the following outcomes and content.
Science and Technology K-6 syllabus (2024)
Living things may change over millions of years, in response to their environments
English K–10 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2022.
Science and Technology 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
English textual concepts © NSW Department of Education, 2016
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