Nature’s gift incursion | Stage 1 Creative Arts
Program overview
Nature’s gift is a Stage 1 Creative Arts incursion where students explore their school grounds for natural inspiration and use digital tools to create nature-inspired artworks. Students collect and photograph natural treasures such as leaves, flowers and stones, then examine their lines, shapes, colours, textures and patterns.
Students learn how artists use natural materials and visual techniques before editing, layering and drawing over their photographs on iPads. Each student selects one artwork to be printed on A4 photo paper, with the print and frame delivered to the school after the incursion. All completed artworks are also provided to the school through Google Drive.
Learning intention
- We are learning to use digital tools and photographs of natural materials to make an artwork that represents nature.
Jump to: Program and curriculum | Essential information | Plan and prepare | Location | Related programs
Program and curriculum information
Program activities
Activities may change to suit student needs, timing and school arrangements.
Art from nature
Students view and discuss examples of artists who use natural materials or nature as inspiration. They describe how artists use materials, techniques, lines, shapes, colours, tones, textures and patterns to represent subject matter and ideas in artworks.
Students identify an approach from the examples that can influence their own digital artwork.
Nature's treasures
Students explore suitable areas of their school grounds and collect natural treasures such as leaves, flowers and stones. Each student photographs selected materials to create a collection of digital images for their artwork.
Imagination workshop
Students review, select and edit their photographs using iPad apps. They layer images and arrange natural forms into compositions to represent ideas about nature.
Using digital drawing tools, students add their names and other details to their artworks.
Students select their preferred artwork for printing on A4 photo paper at Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre. The print and frame are delivered to the school at a later date for the school to assemble. All completed artworks are also provided through Google Drive.
Suggested timetable
Time |
Classes |
| 9.00–11.00 | Classes 1 and 2 |
| 11.30–1.30 | Classes 3 and 4 |
Please include your school's bell times in the notes section of your booking form.
The program works best in 2-hour blocks. This may require some classes to begin recess or lunch earlier or later than usual.
More than 4 classes will need to book an additional day.
Syllabus outcomes and content
Students will learn to
- observe lines, shapes, colours, textures and patterns in natural materials
- describe how artists use materials, techniques and the elements of art and design to represent subject matter and ideas
- identify how another artist or artwork can influence their own artmaking
- use digital tools to photograph, select, edit and layer images
- use digital drawing tools to add lines, shapes, colours and patterns
- arrange natural forms within a composition
- create an imaginative artwork representing ideas about nature
- select an artwork for printing
The incursion directly supports the Creative Arts K–6 Syllabus (2024) through Visual Arts experiences where students use photographs, digital tools and drawing techniques to represent subject matter and ideas.
Creative Arts K–6 Syllabus (2024)
Visual Arts
Outcome
- Makes artworks using materials and techniques to represent subject matter and ideas, and describes ways artists convey ideas in artworks – CA1-VIS-01
Content addressed
Making: Artists use materials and techniques to represent subject matter and ideas in artworks
- Make artworks to represent subject matter and ideas about their world in realistic, imaginative or expressive ways
- Use drawing materials and techniques to explore how types of lines, shapes and patterns can represent subject matter or ideas
- Explore ways digital tools can be used to make still or moving images
- Explore the spatial arrangement of shapes or objects in compositions to represent subject matter and ideas
- Identify ways other artists and artworks influence own artmaking practice
Appreciating: Artists represent subject matter and ideas in artworks which can be experienced and described by audiences
- Describe how artists use materials, techniques, lines, shapes, colours, tones, textures and patterns to represent subject matter and ideas in artworks, using Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary
Creative Arts K–6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority 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 school $20 per student – GST free
Non-government school $26 per student – GST free, minimum charge $750 per class
A minimum charge of $750 per class applies to non-metropolitan schools.
Classes
A maximum of four classes can participate each day, with up to 64 students in each session.
Schools with more than four classes will need to book an additional program day.
Schools requiring more than one program day should book consecutive days where possible.
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
View incursion risk assessments
Notify Field of Mars EEC before the incursion about medical, mobility, sensory, communication or other support needs so reasonable adjustments can be considered.
The school should ensure the selected indoor and outdoor learning spaces, furniture arrangements and movement routes are accessible and appropriate for participating students.
Classroom teachers are expected to attend and actively supervise students throughout the incursion.
Students who are unwell should not attend.
Weather, cancellations and rescheduling
The incursion may be modified, postponed or cancelled if travel or program delivery is unsafe because of extreme weather or fire danger.
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
Learning space and access
Provide one extra-large indoor learning space for all participating classes for the duration of the day. The space must be large enough to accommodate multiple classes and must include a screen or projector that can be viewed by all students.
Provide Field of Mars EEC staff with clear school-entry, visitor sign-in and parking instructions. Where possible, arrange parking or an unloading area close to the main learning space.
Ensure the school office and participating teachers know when Field of Mars EEC staff will arrive and where the program will be delivered.
School grounds and session organisation
Provide access to suitable areas of the school grounds where students can safely find and photograph natural materials such as leaves, flowers and stones.
Ensure required rooms, gates and outdoor areas are unlocked and available. Inspect outdoor learning areas for temporary hazards before the program.
Include the school’s bell times in the notes section of the booking form. The program works best in 2-hour blocks and may require adjusted recess or lunch times.
Location
School incursions
Planning information for incursions delivered at your school, including learning spaces, accessibility, risk management and staff access.
Extend student learning
Use these student-friendly fact sheets before or after the Nature’s gift incursion to introduce plants, natural materials, colours, shapes, textures, patterns and schoolyard habitats that can inspire student artworks.
- Plants fact sheet – Explore plant features including leaves, flowers, bark, seeds, colours, shapes and patterns that can inspire artworks.
- Tree habitat fact sheet – Discover the leaves, flowers, bark, branches, hollows and textures found in and around trees.
- Ground cover habitat fact sheet – Explore grasses, ferns and low plants that create colours, patterns, shapes and small schoolyard habitats.
- Leaf litter habitat fact sheet – Discover the varied colours and textures of fallen leaves, bark, flowers and twigs found on the ground.
Learn with us
Book this incursion
Book this Stage 1 Creative Arts incursion using our online booking form.
Learning resources
Use curriculum-linked digital books, lesson ideas and classroom activities to extend nature-inspired Creative Arts and environmental learning.
Related Stage 1 programs
Animals animated incursion
Investigate invertebrate features and habitats, then create a stop-motion animation using plasticine models and iPads.
Schoolyard safari incursion
Search for invertebrates, investigate schoolyard habitats and use iPads to record and group living things.