Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Experience Engage Enable

Telephone02 9816 1298

Emailfieldofmar-e.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Documentary in a day excursion program

Teacher checklist

Location

Field of Mars Reserve, Pittwater Road, East Ryde

Wallumedegal Country

Google maps - Apple maps

Bus access

Supply bus driver with Field of Mars Reserve bus information

No bus entry into Field of Mars Reserve.

Cost

2025 DoE $25 per student - GST free

2025 Non-gov school cost $35 per student - GST free, minimum charge $750

Term 1 - Catholic school Weeks 3 to 7  cost = DoE cost - GST free, minimum charge $750

Schools are to confirm the number of students and classes at least 7 days prior to attending. Schools will be charged based on the number of students confirmed or number of students who attend on the day (whichever is greater). 

Risk assessment Field of Mars Reserve risk management plan
Tracks

View the YouTube track overview videos.

Buffalo Creek Track

Doyle and Warada loop track

Welfare

Participants will be bushwalking during the day in rugged terrain.

Limited wheelchair accessibility.

This excursion may not be suitable for people who have recently been unwell.

Bring

Backpack, medication, low-waste food, water bottle, sunblock, raincoat, hat, sturdy shoes.

Students wear reusable name tag and sports uniform.

View Preparing for an excursion
Supporting resources

Student activities

Eucalypt forest digital book - available free from Apple Books

Habitat digital book - available free from Apple Books

Fact sheets

Bin access

All student waste to be taken home by students.

Parent/carer helpers Optional one parent per class, no siblings. Closed shoes essential.
Medical or special needs

Notify Field of Mars staff prior to excursion. 

Students, staff and visitors must not attend if unwell, even with mild symptoms. 

Extreme or wet weather

Days predicted to be above 35ºC, high winds, extreme bush fire danger and dust storms may result in the excursion being modified, postponed or cancelled. 

Cancellations

Cancellations with less than 30 working school days notice will incur a $600 administration fee. 

Cancellations with less than 7 working school days notice will incur the full cost for the program based on the original booking. 

Cancellations due to weather or fire danger are exempt from fees. 


Suggested timetable for up to three classes

Time

Classes A, B, C

9.45 - 10.15 Introduction
10.15 - 10.45 Recess
10.45 - 11.00 Equipment distribution
11.00 - 1.00 Mobile filmmaking 
1.00 - 1.30 Lunch
1.30 - 2.00 Mobile filmmaking 
2.15 Depart


Learning activities

Students will be introduced to the techniques of mobile documentary filmmaking. They will create an informative and entertaining documentary on iPads showcasing the incredible habitats within the Field of Mars Reserve.

Introduction

In the classroom, students will be introduced to the process of documentary making. A Field of Mars produced documentary is shown to outline the production steps, voiceover, camera techniques and editing. 

Mobile filmmaking in the reserve

During this session each class will operate in a variety of bushland locations. Students will be working in groups of two.

At each location students will develop a script through field observations and research using simple multimodal digital texts. 

Students will take photos and videos to bring their script to life. They will be explicitly taught a variety of camera techniques including camera angles, camera shots and camera movements to enhance their imagery.

Students will be taught how to use iMovie to begin editing their documentary in the field. They will learn how to sequence, adjusting timing, add titles, add captions, modify sound, record voiceovers and add appropriate background music.

All completed movies will be returned to the school via Google Drive.

Optional

Before the excursion students complete some of the activities provided in the Nature documentary learning resource.

Recommended activities: 

Lesson 1

Activity 1: What makes a great nature documentary?

Lesson 2

Activity 1: Identify habitats

Activity 2: Research habitat facts

Lesson 3

Activity 1: Beautiful cinematography 



Syllabus outcomes and content

English K-10 Syllabus (2022)

Creating written texts

Outcomes

  • plans, creates and revises written texts for informative purposes, using text features, sentence-level grammar, punctuation and word-level language for a target audience EN2-CWT-02

Content

Informative purposes

  • Create informative written texts that include headings, paragraphs beginning with topic sentences, and may conclude information in a final paragraph
  • Create written texts that describe experiences and observations to connect with and inform an audience

Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2024)

Physical and living systems depend on energy

Outcomes

  • 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

  • Describe how the needs of living things are provided by the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere

  • Describe the relationship between habitat, ecosystem and environment
  • Observe and describe living and non-living things in a habitat
  • Describe ways in which plants and animals depend on each other for survival

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