Sustainability and Stories is run by a team of educators, alumni and students from the Faculty of Education, with support from the MGSE Innovation Funding Scheme.

We provide schools and educators with access to online sustainability teaching resources. The project centres on the use of children’s stories to promote education for sustainable development (ESD) as well as other teaching ideas and whole school approaches.

We have also tailored resources for small island developing states (SIDS) to align with local frameworks.

What is Education for Sustainable Development?

Educating young people to be better equipped to face the challenges of climate change is a crucial issue facing society.

In the context of the Sustainable Development Goals, education has a key role to play in promoting sustainability: “education can, and must, contribute to a new vision of sustainable global development” (UNESCO, 2015).

As such, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) aims to equip individuals with the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes necessary to create a more sustainable future for all.

ESD integrates content relevant to sustainable practices, responsible consumption and climate change. It also  promotes learning that is active and participatory, and empowers learners to be action-oriented.

ESD in small island developing states

This project aims to promote Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in small island developing states (SIDS), recognizing they are at the frontline of experiencing the impact of climate change (Crossley, 2019).

Geographic and economic factors make ESD particularly vital within small island states. These nations are vulnerable to environmental changes such as rising sea levels, natural disasters, and changes in weather patterns. ESD can equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to adapt to mitigate the impacts of these changes.

What We Do

Teaching resources

We provide ESD teaching resources such as children’s stories and lesson plans, as well as a curated range of online teaching resources.

Whole-school approaches 

Our site also provides schools and educators with resources about whole school approaches to promoting sustainability.

This includes ideas for starting a school garden, developing a composting system, ideas for reducing waste in the school and ideas for cleanup activities.