Year 5 Neuro-Inclusive Environment, Climate & Sustainability Curriculum: Term 2

Year 5, Term 2 of the Heal Earth Curriculum invites students to investigate the "invisible" chemistry of our planet through "The Carbon Cycle & Energy Flows." This term marks a shift from observing planetary subsystems to understanding the chemical threads that bind them. Learners adopt the role of "Planetary Data Scientists," discovering that carbon is not just a pollutant, but the fundamental "LEGO" of life that must be kept in a delicate balance between the sky, the sea, and the soil.

Students engage in rigorous scientific inquiry as they model the "Short Circuit" caused by burning fossil fuels and conduct "Shell Shock" experiments to witness the chemical reality of ocean acidification. They move beyond simple observation to data analysis, interpreting the "Sawtooth" patterns of the Keeling Curve and mapping local carbon "Sources and Sinks" across their school grounds. The term culminates in the creation of "Carbon Comics," where students synthesize complex timescales and feedback loops into a narrative of restoration, establishing a lasting identity as informed specialists capable of bending the curve toward a cooler future.

Curriculum Structure

• Modular Strands: Planet Data Lab, Regenerative Earth, Eco Communication

• Pedagogical Frame: Prepare → Learn → Practice → Reflect

• Duration: 12 weeks (The Carbon Cycle Module)

• SDG Links: SDG 7 (Affordable & Clean Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land)