Year 5 Neuro-Inclusive Environment, Climate & Sustainability Curriculum: Term 1

Year 5, Term 1 of the Heal Earth Curriculum invites students to embark on a journey of "Systems Thinking" through the "Earth's Spheres" module. This term marks a significant cognitive shift, moving learners from observing isolated natural phenomena to understanding the Earth as a single, self-regulating entity. Students discover that the Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Geosphere, and Biosphere are not separate boxes, but deeply interconnected systems that "talk" to one another through constant exchanges of energy and matter.

Learners adopt the professional identity of "Planetary Physicians" as they conduct diagnostic investigations into the Earth's subsystems. They build "Layer Cake" models of the atmosphere, visualize the Earth's thermal heartbeat through "Current Convection" labs, and use "Chocolate Rock Cycles" to grasp the immense scale of geologic time. By designing "Biome in a Box" dioramas and mapping the "Butterfly Effect" of systemic disruptions, students develop the high-level systems empathy required to diagnose and eventually prescribe treatment for our planet’s complex health challenges.

Curriculum Structure

• Modular Strands: Regenerative Earth, Planet Data Lab, NeuroNature

• Pedagogical Frame: Prepare → Learn → Practice → Reflect

• Duration: 12 weeks (Earth's Spheres Module)

• SDG Links: SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land), SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action)