Documentary in a day incursion program

Teacher checklist

Location	Your school and/or local site
Cost	2025 DoE $25 per student - GST free 2025 Non-gov school cost $28 per student - 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	Risk management plan
School preparation	Please provide one learning space, with a smart board, for all participating classes for the duration of the day. The space needs to accommodate multiple classes.
Welfare	If leaving school participants might be bushwalking during the day in rugged terrain. This incursion may not be suitable for people who have recently been unwell.
Bring	Backpack, medication, low-waste food, water bottle, sunblock, raincoat, hat, sturdy shoes, mask. 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 Fact sheets
Parent/carer helpers	Optional one parent per class, no siblings. Closed shoes essential. Check COVID-19 restrictions.
Medical or special needs	Notify Field of Mars staff prior to incursion. 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 incursion 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

Actual times may vary.

Time	Activities
9.00 - 9.30	Introduction and equipment distribution
9.30 - 9.45	Mobile filmmaking - Title scene
9.45 - 10.00	Introduction to iMovie
10.00 - 11.00	Mobile filmmaking - Establishing scene
11.00 - 11.30	Recess
11.30 - 1.00	Mobile filmmaking - Scene 2 and 3 and conclusion.
1.00 - 1.45	Lunch
1.45 - 2.30	Post-production editing
2.30	Finish

Learning activities

Students will be introduced to the techniques of documentary film making. They will create an informative and entertaining documentary on iPads showcasing the habitat features of natural areas in and around your school.

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, narration, camera techniques and editing.

Mobile filmmaking

During this session each class will operate in a variety of natural locations in or near your school. Students will be working in groups of 2.

At each location students will develop a script through field observations.

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 videos will be returned to your school via Google Drive

Optional

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

Recommended activities include:

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

Return to program summary

Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

address Field of Mars Reserve
Pittwater Road
East Ryde NSW 2112

telephone 02 9816 1298

email fieldofmar-e.school@det.nsw.edu.au

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Documentary in a day incursion program

Teacher checklist

Suggested timetable for up to three classes

Time

Activities

Learning activities

Syllabus outcomes and content

Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

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