Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Experience Engage Enable

Telephone02 9816 1298

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

Science animated incursion program

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Children at a desk

Teacher checklist

Location

Your school
Risk management plan
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). 
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

Animal and plant 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 

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Science animated incursion

Science and technology

Program

Science animated is an incursion that combines literacy and science, allowing students to create a stop-motion animation using an iPad.

Learning intentions

  • We are learning to describe how invertebrates depend on their environment for survival.
  • We are learning to make a stop-motion animation.

Activities

Invertebrate investigation

Students will work in groups of two or three to collect invertebrates from your school grounds. 

Developing a script, storyboard and props

Students will create a script and storyboard based on invertebrate observations, then make props using plasticine and other resources.

Creating an animation

Students will learn stop motion animation using an iPad app, creating a 20-second animation with 180-220 frames. They will use the school grounds as a natural stage, utilising different areas for each scene.

Editing an animation

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

Completed animations will be returned to school via Google drive.

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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

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Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

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We’d like to acknowledge the Wallumedegal Peoples of the Darug Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we stand and pay our respects to Elders past and present.

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