Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Experience Engage Enable

Telephone02 9816 1298

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

Science animated incursion program

Teacher checklist

Location

Your school

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/projector, for all participating classes for the duration of the day. The space needs to accommodate multiple classes.

Place students into groups of two. 

Bring

Students wear hats, sports uniform and reusable name tag.

Supporting resources

Invertebrate fact sheets

Invertebrate Explorer - available free from Apple Books

Fact sheets

Parent/carer helpers

1 or 2 parents per class are welcome to attend the middle session. Parent/carers provide additional support during the animation process. Ensure the COVID-19 safety plan is followed.

Medical or special needs

Notify Field of Mars staff prior to incursion. 

Sick students or adults to stay at home.

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 two classes

Time

Activity

Commence at 9.15

Morning session

Investigating invertebrates

 

Developing a script, storyboard and props

Middle session

Creating an animation

Afternoon session

Editing an animation 

 

Animation theatre


Learning activities

Science animated is a literacy and science focused incursion program that engages students in the creation of a stop motion animation communication product using an iPad.

Key question
  • How do living things depend on their environment for survival?

Investigating invertebrates

Students will work in groups of 2 to search for and collect leaf litter or arboreal invertebrates in the gardens and trees found in the school or local area using equipment provided by Field of Mars teachers. 

Developing a script, storyboard and props

Students will develop a script about the needs, habitats and ecosystem interactions of an invertebrate in the form of a simple information report. The script will be based on students' observations of invertebrates and the environment.

Once the script is complete students will begin to visualise what their final animation will look like. This involves creating a storyboard that provides an outline/sketch of the types of scenes that will be used to create the animation. A good storyboard simplifies the animation process and ensures students know what is required in each scene.

The script and storyboard will help determine what types of props the students need to create their animation. The main prop for the animation will be an invertebrate. This will be made out of modelling clay, drawn or a photograph. Field of Mars teachers will provide clay and other resources for props.

The props that will be moved will be around the size of a student's thumb. Only one or two moveable objects will be used in the animation.

Creating an animation

The focus of the middle session is to provide students with an opportunity to engage with and creatively explore stop motion animation.

At the start of the session Field of Mars teachers will demonstrate to students how to use the app iStopmotion to create an animation with the assistance of the script, storyboard and props.

A quality animation usually contains 10 pictures per second of film. For a 20 second animation students will need between 180 to 220 frames of animation. To speed up the process a minimum of 5 pictures per second may be used.

Traditionally animations are created by building a small stage indoors. The students will utilise the school grounds for creating the animation. Students will use different natural areas for each scene. In the event of poor weather the 'stage' will move indoors and utilise tote trays to create a stage with natural materials.

Editing an animation

Students will use iMovie to compile their animations into one movie. They will add titles and learn how to improve sound.

Animation theatre

Students will be invited to present their animation on the ‘big screen’ during this session to showcase their efforts to their class. 

Animations will be saved and provided to the school for further viewing.



Syllabus 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
  • describe ways in which plants and animals depend on each other for survival

Body systems work together to enable movement

  • recognise that all animals are either invertebrates with no spine, or vertebrates with a spine
  • compare ways invertebrates and vertebrates move on land, in water and in the sky

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


Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2017)

Living world

Outcomes 

  • questions, plans and conducts scientific investigations, collects and summarises data and communicates using scientific representations ST2-1WS-S
  • compares features and characteristics of living and non-living things ST2-4LW-S

Content

Survival of living things 

  • describe how living things depend on each other and the environment to survive

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, 2017