Our Foundational Beliefs

​​Our Foundational Beliefs for Stewardship of the Earth

Grounded in Beliefs, Growing with Purpose
At Growing Green Curriculum, our work is guided by deeply held values that nurture children, honor the planet, and inspire lifelong stewardship. These foundational beliefs shape how we teach, learn, and grow, ensuring every child experiences nature, play, and connection as the heart of their education.

​​Sprout Sessions

At Growing Green, we believe children grow best when they are seen, heard, and guided with care. Sprout Sessions were created to reflect these foundational beliefs, offering short, thoughtful moments to support social-emotional growth, curiosity, and meaningful connection.

Each 10-minute session invites you to slow down, reflect, and nurture the same values we hold at the heart of our work: respect for children, responsiveness in relationships, and wonder for the world around us.
It’s not just what we teach. It’s how (+ why) we teach it.
Our roots run deep. Here’s what grounds Growing Green Curriculum.
(Spoiler: It’s play, planet care, and a whole lot of love.)

The 4 Pillars of Our Early Childhood Sustainability Curriculum​

​Our sustainability approach in early childhood education is rooted in love, led by research, and built on action. These four pillars guide everything we do ... from daily interactions to long-term advocacy.

NUMBER #1

If you Love it, you will Fight for it

WE BEGIN WITH RELATIONSHIPS ...
BETWEEN CHILDREN + NATURE
BETWEEN HUMANS + THE PLANET

In early childhood, love and care are the foundation for action. When children form meaningful connections with the natural world, they develop a sense of responsibility and a desire to protect it. We create environments and experiences that nurture curiosity, empathy, and awe for nature.
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Key Components:
  • Nature-Based Learning: Children engage with the outdoors daily, exploring living systems, weather, seasons, and their local ecosystems through play, observation, and inquiry.
  • Nature Museum: Rotating displays of natural items (feathers, rocks, nests, leaves) act as provocations for storytelling, art, and science.
  • Nature Prompts: Simple, open-ended questions and materials placed outdoors invite children to explore, reflect, and discover.
  • Relationship-Focused Practice: Teachers model and nurture relationships not just between people, but with animals, plants, and places—helping children build emotional bonds with the natural world.

​Children Are Capable + Curious

​Children aren’t empty buckets to fill. They are wildflowers ready to bloom.
We believe children are not passive receivers of knowledge. They are thinkers, feelers, experimenters, and mini scientists ... from day one.

Each child arrives with an innate curiosity and a unique perspective, eager to explore and make sense of the world around them. Their questions, observations, and discoveries are the starting points for meaningful learning experiences.

By honoring their natural curiosity and capacity, we create environments that encourage risk-taking, creativity, and problem-solving. We listen deeply, respond thoughtfully, and provide materials and experiences that invite exploration and wonder.

When children lead their own learning, they build confidence, resilience, and a sense of agency that lasts a lifetime. They learn not just to absorb information, but to ask questions, test ideas, and adapt with joy and openness.

We see childhood as a vibrant journey of growth and possibility. One where every child is empowered to flourish in their own way.

NUMBER #2

Teach Children to Care for the Earth

CHILDREN ARE CAPABLE HUMAN BEINGS OF TAKING ACTION 
​SUSTAINABLITY IS NOT AN ADD-ON ... IT'S A WAY OF BEING 

We embed sustainability into the rhythms and rituals of our classrooms. Through real, tangible practices, children learn how their actions matter, building habits that contribute to a more just and healthy planet.
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Key Components:
  • Sustainability Practices: Children participate in composting, sorting recyclables, tending to gardens, and reducing waste. These are not special projects, they are part of the daily routine.
  • Environmental Education in Action: Concepts like the water cycle, plant growth, pollination, and interdependence are explored through hands-on learning, books, and sensory experiences. Teachers use age-appropriate language and intentional questioning to help children understand their place in these systems.

​The Earth is Our First Classroom

Before there were worksheets, there were sticks, stones, and sunrises.
Nature is not an extra. It’s the setting, the subject, and the spark.

From the moment children step outside, the world becomes their teacher, full of endless opportunities to observe, explore, and wonder. The natural environment offers rich, hands-on experiences that no classroom walls can replicate.

We believe that outdoor play is a fundamental right, essential to healthy development and lifelong learning, not a luxury or an add-on. Our curriculum is thoughtfully designed to honor the changing seasons, celebrate the rhythms of nature, and cultivate a deep respect for the planet.

By immersing children in nature’s classroom, we inspire stewardship and a sense of responsibility. They learn that they are part of a larger web of life, connected to plants, animals, and ecosystems ... and that their actions have meaning beyond themselves.

When children learn in nature, they develop not only knowledge but also empathy, resilience, and a commitment to protect the Earth for generations to come.
Teach with the trees. Learn from the leaves.

NUMBER #3

Leverage Research on Best Practices + Current Sustainablity Trends to Guide our Actions

WE ARE REFLECTIVE PRACTITONERS WHO GROUND OUR WORK IN EVIDENCE, EQUITY + RELEVANCE 

Sustainability in early childhood must be thoughtful and intentional. We align our actions with current research, developmentally appropriate practice, and culturally responsive pedagogy. This ensures our efforts are meaningful, inclusive, and adaptable to the communities we serve.
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Key Components:
  • Developmentally Appropriate Practice: Activities and expectations match children’s cognitive, emotional, and physical capacities, ensuring sustainability education is playful, meaningful, and integrated into their world.
  • Research-Informed Approaches: We stay connected to the latest in environmental education, child development, and systems thinking—allowing us to innovate and evolve.
  • Culturally Inclusive + Socially Just Frameworks: We recognize that environmental issues intersect with social justice. We include diverse voices, value Indigenous knowledge, and affirm each child’s cultural relationship to the land.

​Play is Serious Business

Play is how children make sense of the world, and build the brains to live in it.

We don’t rush kids into academics. Instead, we give them the time and space to play deeply, creatively, and meaningfully. Play is the essential foundation where children develop critical skills. Cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills that prepare them for lifelong learning and resilience.

Through play, children experiment with ideas, test boundaries, and navigate social interactions. They learn to problem-solve, communicate, negotiate, and collaborate. Open-ended play invites imagination and curiosity, allowing children to invent stories, explore new roles, and discover their own unique strengths.

Movement, sensory experiences, and creative expression are all vital parts of this process. Whether building a fort from sticks, exploring mud with their hands, or role-playing in a make-believe world, children engage their whole bodies and minds in learning that is joyful, authentic, and deeply connected to their development.

Play is not just downtime ... it’s brain-building, heart-growing, and life-shaping work. It’s where children become thinkers, creators, and compassionate humans ready to engage with the world around them.
Play isn’t a break.
​It’s the foundation of learning.

​​Relationships Matter Most

The strongest curriculum in the world means nothing without connection.

We prioritize kindness, empathy, and community in everything we design. Whether it’s a mud kitchen or a story circle, what matters most is how children feel while they learn.

Positive relationships form the foundation for children’s social and emotional growth, creating safe spaces where they feel valued, heard, and understood. When children trust their teachers and peers, they are more confident to take risks, express themselves, and engage deeply in learning.

Our approach nurtures not only connections between children and adults, but also connections among peers, with nature, and within the broader community. We believe that learning happens best when children feel a sense of belonging and mutual respect.

By fostering empathy and cooperation, we help children develop essential life skills like communication, conflict resolution, and compassion, that build strong communities now and in the future. Every interaction is an opportunity to model kindness and support, shaping a culture where everyone thrives.

In this nurturing environment, children learn that they matter, their voices matter, and together, we all grow stronger.
People before product.
​Always.

​​Learning Should Be Real, Rhythmic + Relevant

Young children don’t need a packed schedule. They need rhythm, wonder, and room to grow.
Our curriculum follows natural patterns (seasons, days, moods) and integrates real-life experiences. No over-scripting. Just meaningful moments in real time.

By honoring the ebb and flow of children’s energy and curiosity, we create learning environments that feel alive and responsive. Children learn best when they can move at their own pace, explore deeply, and engage with content that connects to their world.

This approach nurtures patience, observation, and creativity, qualities that help children develop a lifelong love of learning. It also supports emotional regulation and social connection by creating predictable yet flexible rhythms that soothe and inspire.

We believe education should be rooted in the here and now, celebrating the wonder of each moment and the unique journey of every child.

NUMBER #4

Reflect, Refine, Demonstrate, Share, Advocate to Foster Growth + Drive Societal Change

WE LEAD BY EXAMPLE
STEWARDSHIP IS A CYCLE OF LEARNING, DOING, SHARING + INSPIRING OTHERS 

Educators, children, and families are all part of a learning ecosystem. We prioritize reflection and growth, not only for ourselves, but to contribute to a larger movement toward sustainability and justice in early education. We advocate for systems change and lead by demonstrating what is possible.
Key Components:
  • Professional Development: Teachers engage in ongoing learning related to sustainability, anti-bias education, and outdoor learning. Opportunities include coaching, workshops, peer dialogue, and action research.
  • Publications: We document and share our process through newsletters, blog posts, articles, and presentations—amplifying what we learn and inspiring others.
  • Leadership-Driven Approach: We operate with the belief that every educator is a leader. Our decisions, advocacy efforts, and community partnerships reflect a commitment to sustainability and child-centered transformation.
This isn’t a checklist. It’s a way of seeing childhood + honoring it.
Our foundational beliefs aren’t set in stone. They are alive, growing + evolving with children, communities + the planet. We invite you to grow with us.

Early Foundations for a Sustainable Future (Birth–5)

Rooted in Ohio / Grounded in Nature / Inspired by Mother Earth / Nuturing the Next Generation