Explore the vital role clean air plays in human health and the environment.

In this lesson, students will explore how energy is transferred and transformed, including renewable and non-renewable energy sources. Students will engage with the fun and innovative Energy Transformers game on devices. The game presents challenges based on real-world data to help them think critically about reducing greenhouse emissions and improving air quality. Students will be encouraged to generate higher-order questions about the content and begin to contribute to the class Question Parking Lot for further exploration.

In this lesson, students will explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ sustainable land management practices, focusing on cultural burning. Students will reflect on Corey Tutt’s work with DeadlyScience and learn about the science behind cultural burns. Through videos and interactive activities, they will compare cultural burning, hazard reduction burns, and bushfires by sorting characteristics in a Venn diagram. The lesson encourages students to connect Indigenous knowledge with modern environmental challenges and promotes understanding of fire management techniques that protect ecosystems.

In this lesson, students will explore the connection between their local landscapes and natural hazard management strategies, focusing on how these strategies are adapted in response to climate change. Building on their previous knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ sustainable practices, such as cultural burning, students will research and discuss management techniques that are responsive to different environments. Using tools like the SEED map database, students will investigate their local area’s fire history,and consider how climate change affects natural hazards like bushfires, floods, and droughts. They will also explore the interactive Mt Resilience game, to identify management strategies that can be applied to their own community. The lesson encourages students to think critically about systemic change, brainstorming ways they can contribute to climate resilience in their local context, and reflecting on resilience across Australia.

In this lesson, students will explore the sources and impacts of air pollution and learn how to monitor air quality in their local environment. Building on their previous learning about natural hazards, students will identify different pollutants, including PM2.5, and discover their effects on both human health and the environment. Through a variety of interactive activities, students will sort pollution sources, distinguish between correlation and causation, and analyse real-time air quality data using the Air Quality NSW website. Finally, they will use low-cost sensors to gather data on PM2.5 levels around their school to determine the areas with the highest and lowest pollution levels and the possible sources of this pollution.

In this lesson, students will learn about carbon dioxide (CO2) and its impact on both the environment and human health. Building on their previous knowledge of air pollution, they will use a CO2 sensor to monitor CO2 levels in the classroom and conduct an experiment to explore the properties of CO2. By observing and analyzing data, students will gain a deeper understanding of how CO2 affects healthy air quality in indoor environments. The lesson will also introduce the importance of long-term air quality monitoring, referencing real-world examples like Boston Public Schools’ air quality study.

In this lesson, students explore the properties and purpose of HEPA filters and investigate their effectiveness in improving air quality. Through hands-on experimentation, students construct a HEPA filter and use it to monitor and reduce harmful PM2.5 particles in the air. Building on their prior knowledge of particulate matter and fair testing, students measure PM2.5 levels before and after burning incense, using sensors to collect data. They evaluate the HEPA filter’s impact by comparing PM2.5 levels with the filter turned on and off. The lesson emphasizes critical thinking and collaboration, guiding students to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios, such as reducing air pollution indoors.

In this lesson, students will apply their scientific understanding and problem-solving skills to design a sustainable Classroom Environmental Management Plan. Working in small groups, students will brainstorm strategies to monitor and improve air quality by addressing CO₂ and PM2.5 levels in their classroom environment. Through collaborative discussions and hands-on activities, they will determine when to use HEPA filters, open or close windows, and assign specific roles to ensure the smooth execution of their plan.

This lesson introduces students to the concept of entrepreneurship and its role in addressing environmental challenges through systemic change, guided by Megan Fisher, CEO of EnergyLab, via engaging video content. Megan shares insights into entrepreneurial thinking, focusing on essential traits like curiosity, empathy, and resilience, and encourages students to see real-world problems as opportunities for positive change. With a focus on transport and environmental issues, students are tasked with identifying challenges in their local context, such as air pollution, lack of public transport, or unsafe bike lanes, and brainstorming innovative solutions using Blue Sky Thinking.