To efficiently incorporate sustainability and cognitive development into our academic program, we have adopted the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) Process of Learning. It is designed to support young children's holistic development, including cognitive, social-emotional, and physical domains.
Sustainability education is a significant aspect of the IEYC program, as it helps children understand and appreciate the natural environment and become responsible global citizens.

In this blog post, we will explore the IEYC Process of Learning, how sustainability is taught at Alpha Green Preschool, and the cognitive development benefits of sustainability education.

The IEYC Process of Learning is based on the principle that children learn best through hands-on experiences and play-based activities. The curriculum comprises many learning goals, covering personal, social, and emotional development, language and communication, and creative development. The learning principles are designed to ensure that children's learning experiences are meaningful, relevant, and engaging.

At Alpha Green Preschool, we combine academics with the outdoors. For example, to teach shapes and colors, we take the children to the garden to look for similar patterns in nature. Children can use flowers, sticks, and leaves from the garden to learn basic math. These activities emphasize the importance of inquiry-based learning, which encourages children to ask questions, explore, and discover for themselves.

Sustainability education is essential to the IEYC program, as it helps children develop a sense of responsibility and respect for the environment. Children are taught the importance of conserving natural resources, reducing waste, and protecting wildlife. For example, we teach gardening, growing butterflies, growing plants, and observing their growth. This helps them understand the importance of sustainable living.

For cognitive development, Alpha Green Preschool uses the Jolly Phonics Program. It is widely recognized as the most effective way to teach children to read and write in English. The fun part about this program is that the children can learn through storytelling. Our teachers have unique exercises where the children learn geography, math, science, and emotional intelligence through stories such as “The Little Red Hen”. They also do physical activities, reading aloud, and independent reading, based on fun stories.
A great example of cognitive development from the IEYC program is a unit called “This Is Me”. It is comprised of four learning blocks:

1. How are we the same? How are we different?
2. My home.
3. My family and me.
4. Looking after myself and others.

Each block comes with engaging activities involving play, reading, physical exercises, and interactions among classmates.
In conclusion, Alpha Green Preschool helps children become responsible global citizens committed to protecting the environment and promoting sustainable living; by integrating sustainability education and cognitive development into the curriculum.