Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Experience Engage Enable

Telephone02 9816 1298

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

Nature's gift incursion program

Teacher checklist

Location

Your school

Cost

2025 DoE $18 per student - GST free

2025 Non-gov school cost $20 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 If possible provide one extra large learning space, with a screen or projector, for all participating classes for the duration of the day. The space needs to accommodate multiple classes.
Supporting resources

Invertebrate Explorer - available free from Apple Books

Fact sheets

Medical or special needs Notify Field of Mars staff prior to incursion. 
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

 
The suggested timetable is suitable for up to four classses. Max 64 students per session.
 
This program works best in two hour blocks. This might require some classes to start recess or lunch early or late.

Time

Classes

9.00 - 11.00

Class 1 and 2

11.30 - 1.30

Class 3 and 4


Learning activities 

Art from nature

In the hall or large learning space, students will be introduced to a variety of artists that utilise natural materials to create artworks.  We will explore the different techniques and the use of tools used by artists to provide valuable ways to understand how artworks are made and to offer students a broad repertoire from which to select and in which to develop further skills.

Nature's treasures

Students explore their school grounds looking for and being inspired by natural treasures including leaves, flowers and stones. These materials will be supplemented with additional natural materials brought by the centre. Each student will take photos of the natural materials to create digital specimens to be used in their artworks.

Imagination workshop

Students will be led on a creative journey learning how to create digital artworks inspired by a variety of artists.

They will use a range of iPad apps to review, edit and enhance photos. They will learn how to use natural materials to create layers of digital imagery. They will use a digital pencil to add drawings to their artworks.

Students will select their favourite artwork to will be printed on A4 photo paper at Field of Mars EEC. These will be delivered to the school with a frame at a later date. Students are responsible for placing artworks into frames.

All artworks will be saved to Google drive for school access. Schools may choose to outsource printing of artworks on mugs, tea towels etc.

Art gallery

Students view selected artworks and discuss the features and techniques used.



Syllabus outcomes and content 

Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus (2024)

Visual Arts

Outcome

  • Makes artworks in intentional ways to represent ideas about their world, and explains ways artists are influenced by contexts and how artworks are interpreted by audiences CA3-VIS-01

Content

Making: Artists represent their world in intentional ways through their artmaking practice 

  • Represent ideas or prespectives of their world and intentions in own artmaking and practice
  • Apply understanding of materials, digital technologies and processes to represent intended ideas in artworks
  • Explore artistic conventions and ways to represent subject matter and ideas in compositions
  • Demonstrate safe artmaking practices with respect for physical, social, digital and cultural safety

Exhibiting: Artworks are displayed and curated to communicate intentional ideas to audiences

  • Reflect on personal experiences and contributions as an artist, explaining how choices and decisions influenced the artwork and the ways it is understood by audiences

Creative Arts 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


Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus (2006)

Visual arts

Outcomes

VAS3.1 Investigates subject matter in an attempt to represent likenesses of things in the world.

  • closely observes details of things in the world and seeks to make artworks about these using various techniques such as proportion, perspective, composition, foreshortening 

Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2006