Poetic adventures incursion | Stage 2 English
Program overview
Poetic adventures is a Stage 2 English incursion where students build rich environmental vocabulary and create an illustrated five-senses poem from the perspective of a minifigure. Working in pairs with supplied iPads, students explore natural areas in their school grounds, compose descriptive lines and capture macro photographs that communicate a miniature viewpoint.
Students refine their poetry using imagery and selected poetic devices, then use iMovie to sequence photographs, record narration and add titles and audio. Completed multimodal poems are shared with the school through Google Drive.
This program is also available for Stage 3 and as a Poetic adventures excursion.
Learning intention
- We are learning to compose an illustrated poem from the perspective of a minifigure.
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, weather and school arrangements.
Poetic adventure
Students collect their poetry toolkit and iPad and learn how to manage equipment while working efficiently with a partner. They are introduced to the planning template and the process for composing, photographing and producing their multimodal poem.
Students complete a guided sensory sit spot in a suitable natural area of the school grounds. They focus on what they can see, hear, touch and smell and build a bank of precise vocabulary, vivid adjectives and descriptive phrases.
Students compose lines from the perspective of a minifigure using a five-senses structure. They use sensory language and experiment with simile and personification to create imagery. They draft, refine and review their writing so that each line communicates a clear perspective and creates strong imagery.
Students learn to take macro photographs from minifigure eye level. They apply visual literacy techniques including framing, focus, camera position and shot selection to create images that complement the meaning and mood of their poem.
iMovie studio
Students return to the indoor learning space and use iMovie to arrange their photographs in a purposeful sequence. They record a spoken narration and add a title, audio and closing credits to create a cohesive digital poem.
Students export and share their completed multimodal texts and reflect on how effectively their words, photographs and narration communicated a miniature perspective. Completed projects are returned to the school through Google Drive.
Post-production
Where required, the final session may be used to complete editing, narration, credits and exporting.
Suggested timetable
Time |
Activities |
| 9.15–11.00 | Poetic adventure |
| Recess | |
| 11.30–1.00 | iMovie studio |
| Lunch | |
| 2.00–2.30 | Post-production (if required) |
Times and session durations may vary depending on the school timetable, available learning spaces, outdoor locations 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
- 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 incursion directly supports the English K–10 Syllabus (2022) through vocabulary development, imaginative writing and the creation of a digital multimodal text.
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
Creating written texts – Imaginative purposes
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
Imaginative purposes
- Use language to create imagery, including simile and personification
Text features for multiple purposes
- Select and use multimodal features to add meaning
Handwriting and digital transcription
Outcome
- EN2-HANDW-02 – uses digital technologies to create texts
English K–6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) 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 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. Schools with more than four classes will need to book an additional program day.
Students work in pairs during the program. Organise students into pairs before the incursion begins.
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.
The program may not suit recently unwell participants.
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 natural features in the school grounds or a suitable nearby natural area.
Identify accessible gardens, planted areas, trees, leaf litter, rocks, logs, bark, flowers or other natural features that students can observe and photograph safely. A variety of natural settings will provide richer sensory vocabulary and photographic opportunities.
Inspect the selected areas before the incursion and remove, isolate or manage temporary hazards.
Students should photograph natural features without unnecessarily picking, moving or damaging living plants, animals or habitats.
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 your Poetic adventures incursion to build environmental vocabulary, inspire descriptive writing and develop ideas for nature poetry.
- Plants fact sheets – Discover the colours, textures, shapes and structures of native Australian plants to inspire descriptive vocabulary and sensory imagery.
- Leaf litter habitat fact sheet – Explore the miniature world beneath leaves, bark and twigs to develop observations and ideas for poetry from a minifigure's perspective.
- Eucalypt forest ecosystem fact sheet – Learn about forest layers, plants, animals and natural features that can inspire imagery, similes and descriptive language.
- Habitat fact sheet – Discover how living things depend on food, water, shelter and space, providing authentic settings and ideas for environmental poetry.
- Invertebrate fact sheets – Investigate insects, spiders and other small animals that can become the narrator or subject of imaginative poems about the natural world.
Learn with us
Book this incursion
Book this Stage 2 English incursion using our online booking form.
Learning resources
Use online lessons and classroom activities to extend poetry, vocabulary, visual literacy and environmental learning before or after the incursion.
Related Stage 2 programs
Digital woodlands incursion
Use iPads outdoors to photograph natural features, apply composition techniques and create digital artworks and visual stories inspired by nature.
Documentary in a day incursion
Plan, script, film and review a short nature documentary while developing informative writing, speaking, listening and multimodal storytelling skills.