Teaching Materials

Find a wide range of structured teaching materials designed to seamlessly integrate sustainability education into your classroom.

Each Learning World is an interactive module designed to teach students about an SDG, the Wedding Cake Model, or an SDG Dilemma. The Learning Worlds include:

Engaging boardstory (animated video)
Interactive tasks and activities
Teacher guide with background information, practical examples, and didactic strategies
A student workbook with ready-to-use worksheets

Browse our learning world overview below and integrate them into your lessons, guiding students through real-world sustainability challenges in a fun and educational way:

Learning World

SDG 01: No Poverty

This Learning World focuses on teaching about the definition and classification of poverty, its multiple causes, its forms of appearance and the implications it has on different levels such as the individual and the structural; the local and the global. The Learning World provides ideas and components that you can integrate into your teaching: An interactive boardstory with complementary exercises, a glossary with the most important terms of the Learning World, additional exercises to consolidate and further reflect on the contents of SDG 1 as well as examples of the connections between this SDG and others.

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Learning World

SDG 02: Zero Hunger

This Learning World focuses on understanding that hunger and malnutrition are a problem of distribution and that rethinking and transforming global diet choices and agriculture are essential. Furthermore, the importance for our health is stated. The Learning World provides ideas and components that you can integrate into your teaching: An interactive boardstory with complementary exercises, a glossary with the most important terms of the Learning World, additional exercises to consolidate and further reflect on the contents of SDG 2 as well as examples of the connections between this SDG and others.

To the Learning World

Learning World

SDG 03: Good Health and Well-being

This Learning World focuses on understanding diverse forms of health and well-being as well as the importance of collective action and sexual education. Further potential topics can be illnesses and health abuse. The Learning World provides ideas and components that you can integrate into your teaching: An interactive boardstory with complementary exercises, a glossary with the most important terms of the Learning World, additional exercises to consolidate and further reflect on the contents of SDG 3 as well as examples of the connections between this SDG and others.

To the Learning World

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FAQ

How to use the Boardstory?

The boardstory player is an interactive digital tool that presents sustainability topics through engaging, animated stories and embedded interactive exercises. The player manual provides step-by-step guidance on how to use the tool, navigate the stories, and incorporate them into classroom lessons effectively.

How do I use the educational material?

Educators can select a Learning World based on an SDG or theme and adapt the materials to fit their classroom needs. All exercises can be completed without having any specific pre-existing knowledge about the topic.

Our teaching materials include a structured teacher guide with background information, practical examples, and didactic strategies as well as a student workbook with ready-to-use worksheets. The heart of each learning world is the interactive, animated boardstory supporting fact-based learning that is fun.

Who is Digital ESD for?

Digital ESD is designed for primary school teachers who want to integrate sustainability education into their lessons. The materials have specifically been developed for students aged 9-11 years but can also be used with younger and older students. It also supports curriculum developers, educators, and organizations promoting ESD.

Are the materials free to use?

Yes! All resources on the Digital ESD platform are freely available for educators to use, adapt, and share.

What are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

The 17 SDGs are a set of global goals established by the United Nations to promote peace, prosperity, and environmental protection. They cover issues like poverty, clean energy, responsible consumption, climate action, and quality education. Our platform helps children understand these goals and their role in achieving them.

What is Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)?

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is an approach to learning that equips students with the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes needed to build a more sustainable future. It encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and active participation in addressing global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and resource management.

What is the Whole School Approach to Sustainability?

The Whole School Approach to sustainability integrates sustainability into every aspect of school life, including the curriculum, infrastructure, daily operations, and partnerships with the wider community. It ensures that sustainability is not just taught in the classroom but demonstrated through real-world actions involving all stakeholders—students, teachers, parents, school staff, local authorities, NGOs, and the community.

By engaging students in hands-on activities like school gardens, outdoor learning, waste reduction, water and energy conservation, and innovative learning methods, this approach fosters authentic, experiential learning. It empowers students to take an active role in environmental stewardship, encouraging lifelong learning and contributing to a sustainable school culture.

In the Educational Input on the Whole School Approach in Primary Schools you can find more background information and examples on how to implement it into your school.