Location | Your school |
Cost | 2023 DoE $24 per student - GST free 2023 Non-gov school cost $34 per student - GST free, minimum charge $600 |
Risk assessment | |
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 Explorer - available free from Apple Books |
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 three school weeks' notice will incur a $500 administration fee. This does not apply to cancellations due to weather, fire danger or COVID-19 restrictions. |
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 |
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.
Students will work in groups of two 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 in the form of a simple information report. The script will be based on observations of students' invertebrates as well as research using a variety of multimodal texts.
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 animationwill 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.
Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2017)
Outcomes
A student:
Content
Students:
Other syllabus links
Learning experiences will also support but not explicitly teach the following outcomes and content.
English K-10 Syllabus (2012)
Outcomes
A student:
Content
Students:
experiment with visual, multimodal and digital technologies to represent aspects of experience and relationships
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, 2012
address
Field of Mars Reserve
Pittwater Road
East Ryde NSW 2112
telephone 02 9816 1298
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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