Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre logo

Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Experience Engage Enable

Telephone02 9816 1298

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

Science animated program

Teacher checklist

Location

Your school

Cost

DoE $24 per student - GST free

Non-gov school $34 per student - GST free, minimum charge $700

Term 1 - Catholic school Weeks 3 to 7 cost = DoE cost - GST free, minimum charge $700

Risk assessment

Risk management plan

COVID-19 safety plan

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

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 four school weeks' notice will incur a $500 administration fee. This does not apply to cancellations due to weather or fire danger.


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 

 

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.

Inquiry question
  • How do the structural and behavioural features of living things support survival?
Investigating invertebrates

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.



Syllabus outcomes and content

Science and Technology K-10 Syllabus (2017)

Outcomes 

A student:

  • 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

  • communicate ideas, explanations and processes, using scientific representations including multimodal forms (ACSIS093, ACSIS110)

Students:

  • describe adaptations as existing structures or behaviours that enable living things to survive in their environment (ACSSU043)
  • describe the structural and/or behavioural features of some native Australian animals and plants and why they are considered to be adaptations

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:

  • use an integrated range of skills, strategies and knowledge to read, view and comprehend a wide range of texts in differesnt media and technologies EN3-3A

Content

Students:

  • recognise the effect of multimedia elements, for example, framing, close-ups 

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

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