Digital woodlands | Stage 3 | Creative Arts incursion | Field of Mars EEC
Program overview
Digital woodlands is a Stage e Creative Arts incursion where students learn digital photography techniques and apply them in and around the school. Students practise composition, rule of thirds and macro photography, capture a portfolio of images, then edit and publish a short photo book and select one image for A4 printing and framing (delivered after the incursion).
Learning intention
- We are learning to represent the natural world through digital photography.
Activities
Introduction
Students begin a curated slideshow of powerful nature photographs. Through guided discussion, students reflect on how images can tell stories, influence people and support conservation.
Students explore key photographic techniques used in nature photography, including subject focus, macro, light, leading lines, framing and rule of thirds. Using examples, students practise identifying how each technique influences mood, balance and visual impact.
Field photography
Working in pairs, students photograph natural features in your school or local area while applying the techniques introduced in class. Students practise safe fieldwork behaviours, experiment with angles and perspectives, and explain the compositional choices made for each image.
Students extend their skills through optional creative challenges such as forced perspective, natural alphabet, patterns and purposeful loose parts compositions. These tasks encourage experimentation, problem solving and refined observation of natural details.
Photo finish
Students use clear selection criteria to shortlist and justify their strongest images, then enhance photos using editing tools. They will also select a photo to be printed. Printed images and frames will be delivered to school after the incursion.
Students collaborate to create a digital photo book in Book Creator that showcases images representing each photographic technique as a chapter. Students design a cover page, sequence images for audience impact and share their finished book with teachers, reflecting on how their photography improved across the day.
Photo gallery
Time permitting, students view a slide show of the day's best photographs and discuss the features and techniques used.
This program is also available as an excursion to the Field of Mars Reserve. This program is also available for Stage 2.
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 |
Risk assessment |
Risk management plan |
Classes |
Recommended maximum 4 classes per day. |
School preparation |
This is a full day program. Schools to provide one extra large learning space, with a screen or projector, for all participating classes for the duration of the day. The space needs to accommodate all classes. If using local bushland or natural areas outside of your school, ensure all class teachers have visited the site and are familiar with the route from your school to it. |
Welfare |
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, volcano eruption, 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 |
| Session 1 |
Introduction Field photography |
| Recess | |
| Session 2 |
Field photography Publishing |
| Lunch | |
| Session 3 | Publishing continued |
Please include your school's bell times in the notes section of your booking form.
Tier 2 and 3 vocabulary
Syllabus outcomes and content
Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus (2024)
Visual Arts
Outcome
- Makes artworks using art forms to represent subject matter and ideas, and describes ways artists convey ideas about their world to audiences through artworks CA2-VIS-01
Content
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
- Use drawing materials and techniques to create effects with texture and tone to represent subject matter and ideas
- 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
- Demonstrate safe art making practices with respect for physical, social and digital safety
Other syllabus links
Learning experiences will also support but not explicitly teach the following outcomes and content:
Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2024)
Physical and living systems depend on energy
Outcome
- Uses information to investigate the solar system and the effects of energy on living, physical and geological systems ST2-SCI-01
Content
Living things depend on energy and materials to survive
- Observe and describe living and non-living things in a habitat
Creative Arts 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
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
Book now
Book your primary incursion using our online booking form.
Learning resources
View online lessons that support primary incursion and excursion programs.
Flora and fauna fact sheets
View our curriculum-aligned fact sheets on Australian animals, plants, ecosystems and environments for NSW primary and secondary students, ideal for research, projects and classroom lea