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, 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, reusable name tag, mask (if required).
Supporting resources

Invertebrate fact sheets

Invertebrate Explorer - available free from Apple Books

Animal and plant fact sheets
Medical or special needs

Notify Field of Mars staff prior to excursion. 

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 excursion 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

This suggested timetable is suitable for up to three classes. Actual times may vary.

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 explain how the structural and behavioural features of invertebrates support their survival.
  • We are learning how to make a stop-motion animation.

Activities

Invertebrate investigation

Students will work in groups of two collecting 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)

Knowledge of our world and beyond inspires sustainable solutions

Outcomes

  • Uses evidence to explain how scientific knowledge can be used to develop sustainable practices ST3-SCI-01
  • Interprets data to support explanations and arguments ST3-DAT-01

Content

Living things may change over millions of years, in response to their environments

  • Observe behavioural and structural adaptations of plants and animals, and suggest how these may help them survive in their environments

Creating written texts in Science and Technology

Outcome

  • Creates written texts to communicate understanding of scientific and technological concepts and processes ST3-CWT-01

Content

Creating written explanations of concepts and processes supports understanding of Science and Technology

  • Use compound and complex sentences and labelled diagrams to create a text that explains a process, concept or investigation
  • Use notetaking, journalling, annotations and labelled images to create a multimodal text that documents the design processes involved in developing a solution

This program supports but does not explicitly teach the following content:

  • Use nominalisations to convey scientific and technological concepts and processes succinctly
  • Use compound and complex sentences and labelled diagrams to create a text that explains a process, concept or investigation

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-10 Syllabus (2017)

Living world

Outcomes 

  • plans and conducts scientific investigations to answer testable questions, and collects and summarises data to communicate conclusions ST3-1WS-S
  • examines how the environment affects the growth, survival and adaptation of living things ST3-4LW-S

Content

Adaptations of living things

  • describe adaptations as existing structures or behaviours that enable living things to survive in their environment 
  • describe the structural and/or behavioural features of some native Australian animals and plants and why they are considered to be adaptations
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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