Digital woodlands incursion | Stage 2 Creative Arts
Program overview
Digital woodlands is a Stage 2 Creative Arts incursion where students use iPads to explore nature photography in their school grounds or a suitable nearby natural area. They learn how photographers use composition, focus, light, perspective and macro photography to represent the natural world and communicate ideas to an audience.
Working in pairs, students capture a portfolio of natural images, select and edit their strongest photographs, and create a collaborative digital photo book. Each student also chooses one image to be printed, framed and delivered to school.
This program is also available for Stage 3 and as a Digital woodlands excursion.
Learning intention
- We are learning to use digital photography techniques to represent the natural world and communicate ideas to an audience.
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.
Nature photography workshop
Students examine examples of nature photography and discuss how images can tell stories, influence audiences and encourage people to value the natural world. They describe how photographers use subject focus, macro photography, light, leading lines, framing, perspective and the rule of thirds to create balance, alter the apparent scale and proportion of subjects, and shape how audiences interpret images.
Field photography
Working in pairs, students photograph plants, animals, textures, patterns and other natural features in the school grounds or a suitable nearby natural area. They experiment with angles and viewpoints, apply composition techniques and explain the choices they make when creating each image.
Students may also complete creative photography challenges involving forced perspective, natural alphabets, patterns and carefully arranged natural materials.
Publishing
Students use selection criteria to identify and justify their strongest photographs before using digital editing tools to refine their images. Each student selects one photograph to be printed, framed and delivered to school.
Students collaborate in Book Creator to produce a digital photo book showcasing different photographic techniques. They organise and sequence images, design a cover and reflect on how their photography developed throughout the day. Time permitting, students share selected photographs and discuss the techniques used.
Suggested timetable
Time |
Activities |
| 9.15–11.00 |
Nature photography workshop Field photography |
| Recess | |
| 11.30–1.00 |
Field photography Publishing |
| Lunch | |
| 1.30–2.15 | Publishing continued (if required) |
Times and session durations may vary depending on the school timetable, location choice and number of participating classes.
Include your school’s bell times in the notes section of the booking form.
Syllabus outcomes and content
Students will learn to
- identify ways photographers represent the natural world and communicate ideas to audiences
- apply composition, focus, framing, perspective, light and macro photography techniques
- explore balance, scale and proportion when composing photographs
- make purposeful choices when selecting natural subjects and composing images
- select, edit, sequence and prepare digital photographs for display
- collaborate to create a digital photo book and reflect on their own and others’ artworks
The incursion directly supports the Creative Arts K–6 Syllabus (2024) through nature photography, digital artmaking, appreciation and the preparation of artworks for an audience.
Creative Arts K–6 Syllabus (2024)
Visual Arts
Outcome
- CA2-VIS-01 – makes artworks using art forms to represent subject matter and ideas, and describes ways artists convey ideas about their world to audiences through artworks
Content addressed
Making – Artists represent their world through subject matter and ideas in artworks
- Represent subject matter and ideas in artworks, making choices based on own interpretations of the world
- Explore digital tools to make or manipulate still or moving images, text and/or sounds
- Explore balance, scale and proportion in compositions to represent subject matter and ideas
- Make artworks through collaboration with others
Appreciating – Artists convey ideas about their world in artworks which can be experienced and interpreted by audiences
- Describe how artists use materials, techniques, processes and the elements of art and design to represent subject matter and ideas in artworks, using Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary
- Describe how artists make choices in their practice that influence how audiences interpret artworks
Exhibiting – Displays and exhibitions of artworks communicate ideas about artists’ practices to audiences
- Refine and enhance artworks or prepare samples of work for display or exhibition
Creative Arts K–6 Syllabus (2024) © 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 – $27 per student, GST free
Non-government school – $37 per student, GST free, minimum charge $750 per class
A minimum charge of $750 per class applies to non-metropolitan schools.
Classes
A recommended maximum of four classes can participate each day, with up to 30 students per class. The indoor learning space must comfortably accommodate all participating classes.
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, with a screen or projector, for all participating classes. The space must comfortably accommodate all participating students and remain available for the duration of the program day.
Ensure the room, outdoor learning areas, gates and movement routes are unlocked and available when Field of Mars EEC staff arrive.
Provide clear school-entry, visitor sign-in and parking instructions before the incursion. 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.
Natural areas and class organisation
The program requires access to significant natural environments in or near the school. Access to a suitable nature reserve near the school provides the richest learning experience.
Reserve suitable and accessible gardens, planted areas, bushland or other natural areas where students can photograph plants, animals, textures, patterns and other natural features. Inspect the selected areas before the incursion and remove or manage temporary hazards.
When using bushland or another natural area outside the school grounds, ensure all participating class teachers have visited the site and are familiar with the walking route between the school and the site. Maintain a supervision ratio of at least one adult to 15 students while away from the school grounds.
Organise students into pairs before the program begins. Ensure participating teachers understand the boundaries of the outdoor learning areas and the required supervision arrangements.
Include the school’s bell times and details of the proposed natural areas in the notes section of the booking form.
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 Digital woodlands incursion to introduce natural subjects, habitats, textures and patterns that can inspire students’ photography.
Ecosystems and environments fact sheet – Explore natural environments, habitats, living things and non-living features that can inspire digital photography.
Eucalypt forest ecosystem fact sheet – Learn about gum-tree forests with trees, shrubs, leaf litter, animals and connected food webs.
Plant fact sheets – Explore native plants with leaves, flowers, bark, colours, shapes and patterns suitable for close observation.
Tree habitat fact sheet – Discover bark, branches, flowers, hollows and canopy features that can become photographic subjects.
Leaf litter habitat fact sheet – Explore small ground-level details suited to macro photography and close observation.
Habitat fact sheet – Learn how living and non-living features create places where organisms can survive.
Learn with us
Book this incursion
Book this Stage 2 Creative Arts incursion using our online booking form.
Learning resources
Explore digital activities, lesson ideas and classroom resources that support creative arts, nature observation and environmental learning.
Related Stage 2 programs
Nature’s gift incursion
Use natural materials, photography and digital drawing tools to create a layered nature-inspired artwork.
Documentary in a day incursion
Plan, script, film and review a short nature documentary while developing speaking, listening and multimodal storytelling skills.