Grade 5 Social Studies: Environmental Decisions and Sustainability
Free Grade 5 Social Studies unit on Environmental Decisions and Sustainability: 10 lessons in order. Includes practice questions and answer keys.
10 lessons in this unit
Human-environment relationships
Define environment, ecosystem, impact and sustainability, explain how people depend on the environment (food, water, materials, energy, livelihoods) and also change it (farming, building, mining, waste), explain positive and negative impacts and trade-offs, and explain why sustainable choices protect people and nature now and in future.
Lesson 2Agriculture and land use
Define land use, subsistence and commercial farming, shifting cultivation, mixed farming, soil erosion and agroforestry, explain how farming is organised in Sierra Leone (rice on uplands and swamps, cassava, groundnuts, vegetables, tree crops, livestock and fishing), explain pressures on land (population, erosion, loss of fertility) and sustainable practices such as crop rotation, mulching, terracing and agroforestry.
Lesson 3Forestry
Define forest, deforestation, reforestation, timber and biodiversity, describe the forests of Sierra Leone (Gola Rainforest National Park, Tiwai Island, Loma Mountains) and the role of forests (habitat, climate, water, livelihoods, medicine and materials), explain causes of deforestation (farming, charcoal and firewood, logging, mining, settlement), and explain solutions such as planting, protection, alternative fuels and community forest management.
Lesson 4Mining and resource extraction
Define mining, ore, extraction, mine rehabilitation and royalty, explain why minerals are important (building, technology, income, jobs), describe mining in Sierra Leone (iron ore, bauxite, rutile, diamonds, gold) factually, explain environmental and social impacts (land, water, dust, noise, resettlement) as well as benefits (jobs, revenue, roads), and explain responsible mining, rehabilitation and fair benefit sharing.
Lesson 5Coastal environments
Define coast, mangrove, estuary, coastal erosion and sea level, describe Sierra Leone’s coast (about 400 km, the Freetown peninsula, the Sherbro area, mangroves, beaches, estuaries), explain how coasts support fishing, tourism, ports and settlement, explain threats (erosion, pollution, overfishing, mangrove loss, rising seas), and explain protective actions.
Lesson 6Water resources
Define water cycle, catchment, water supply, sanitation and water stress, describe water sources in Sierra Leone (rivers, wells, springs, rainwater, the Guma and Bumbuna reservoirs), explain how water is used (drinking, farming, industry, energy), explain threats (pollution, deforestation, growing demand, seasonal shortage) and explain protection and fair sharing, including simple saving habits.
Lesson 7Pollution
Define pollution, pollutant, air, water, soil and noise pollution, litter and waste hierarchy (reduce, reuse, recycle), explain sources and effects on health and ecosystems, explain responsibilities of individuals, businesses and governments, and propose practical ways to reduce pollution without blaming particular people or families.
Lesson 8Conservation
Define conservation, protected area, endangered species, habitat and wildlife corridor, explain why species become endangered (habitat loss, hunting, pollution, climate change), describe conservation efforts in Sierra Leone and West Africa (Tiwai Island, Gola, Outamba-Kilimi, Western Area Peninsula, Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary) and explain how communities, schools and governments can help.
Lesson 9Economic and environmental trade-offs
Define trade-off, cost-benefit analysis, externality and short-term versus long-term, explain that decisions about land, water and resources often balance economic gain against environmental and social costs, practise weighing options with evidence using a cost-benefit table, explain who bears costs and who gains, and show how sustainable choices can sometimes meet both goals.
Lesson 10Sustainable development project
Define sustainable development, project plan, stakeholder and indicator, plan a class project that meets a community need while protecting the environment (for example a school garden, a waste-reduction scheme or a tree nursery), identify stakeholders, set goals and indicators, assign roles, anticipate risks, and reflect on progress, with all work age-appropriate, supervised and consented.