First Lessons from the Earth

Author:
Susmita Changkakoty
April 14, 2025

Early Years That Inspire Environmental Wisdom

As the world faces urgent environmental and social shifts, the early years of education offer a powerful and often overlooked opportunity to plant the seeds of real change. Yet, many learning environments still treat sustainability as a subject rather than a way of being, missing the chance to shape values when they take root most deeply. 

Organo Et School’s Early Years Initiatives respond to this gap with a joyful, immersive approach grounded in the STEL framework— Sustainability Through Experiential Learning—built on three essential pillars: Environment, Experiential Learning, and Enjoyment. By designing nature-rich spaces, inviting children to learn through doing, and encouraging wonder-filled encounters with the natural world, this model cultivates empathy, curiosity, and a lifelong sense of responsibility. 

For schools seeking to align with future-ready education while nurturing values that endure, this is an invitation to co-create learning environments where children don’t just understand sustainability—they live it.

Our Early Years Initiatives is a thoughtfully designed response to these times, rooted in love with the planet and a belief in children's capacity to lead change.

Why Start Early?

By the time today’s children enter adulthood, the job market will be radically different. According to the World Economic Forum, "green jobs" will be in high demand—just as IT jobs boomed in the 1990s.  Our mission is to not only prepare children for the future but to empower them to shape it. And the best way to do that? Help them fall in love with the Earth.

Children who are deeply connected to nature grow up with empathy, curiosity, and a sense of responsibility toward the planet. OES brings this vision to life through STEL—Sustainability Through Experiential Learning.

The STEL Framework: 3Es

At the heart of STEL lies a simple, powerful approach—Environment, Experiential Learning, and Enjoyment.

1. Environment: Designing for Discovery and Connection

We craft learning environments that mirror natural systems and inspire young learners:

Nature-Inspired Design

  • Wooden furniture, bamboo features, plants, and natural light create a calm, sensory-rich atmosphere.
  • Green spaces like herb gardens, microgreen patches, terrariums, and outdoor play areas foster hands-on exploration.

Hands-On Learning Zones

  • Water play areas to explore conservation.
  • Gardening stations with soil and seeds.
  • Recycling and upcycling corners.
  • Eco-art spaces with natural and reused materials.

Technology & Visual Tools

  • Interactive displays bring ecosystems, the water cycle, and animal habitats to life.
  • Microscopes and tablets allow close observation of leaves, insects, and soil.
  • Charts and climate posters gently introduce sustainability ideas.

Sustainable Practices in the Classroom

  • Child-friendly recycling and composting stations.
  • Water conservation tools (like rainwater collectors).
  • Zero-waste classroom celebrations show real-life applications of environmental care.

Flexible, Child-Centered Layouts

  • Open-plan spaces for free movement and choice-based learning.
  • Cozy reading corners with nature-themed books.
  • Group discussion zones and project-based learning areas for collaborative inquiry.

2. Experiential Learning: Engaging the Heart, Hands, and Head

STEL ensures that children are not passive recipients of information but active participants in meaningful experiences.

Why it Works:

  • Multi-Sensory Engagement: Children learn by touching, smelling, tasting, seeing, and hearing.
  • Emotional Bonding: Tending to a garden or caring for an animal creates a lasting connection to life and the environment
  • Curiosity & Critical Thinking: Exploration sparks inquiry—"Why are worms good for soil?" "What happens when plants don’t get water?" 
  • Collaboration & Communication: Working in teams nurtures empathy, leadership, and shared responsibility.
  • Action-Oriented Confidence: Real-world activities like saving seeds, composting, and growing food empower children to make a difference.

3. Enjoyment: Letting Children Fall in Love with Nature

We believe that the path to sustainability is not paved with fear, but wonder. Rather than preaching about environmental issues, we introduce nature through joyful, hands-on experiences. It’s about planting the seeds of appreciation early—without burdening children with anxiety about the planet's future.

 Signature STEL Programs at OES

Two of our most loved programs bring these principles to life:

Be A Farmer Program (6 Weeks)

Hosted at OES Farm, this program allows children to engage in organic farming from start to finish:

  • Week 1: Soil Preparation
  • Week 2: Making Jeevamrutham
  • Week 3: Application of Jeevamrutham
  • Week 4-5: Neem Oil & Buttermilk Sprays for Natural Pest Management
  • Week 6: Harvesting & Graduation Ceremony

Goshala Program (5 Weeks)

A gentle introduction to animal care and dairy ecosystems:

  • Week 1: Visit to Organo Goshala
  • Week 2: Making & Tasting Butter
  • Week 3: Sampling Milk Varieties
  • Week 4: Making Natural Cheese
  • Week 5: Graduation Ceremony

These immersive programs not only teach children where their food and milk come from but also nurture gratitude, responsibility, and joy.

Field Trips That Inspire

OES frequently welcomes children from schools across Hyderabad and beyond for educational visits and workshops at our Eco Communities:

Indus International School

The Gaudium School

New York Academy

Anthea Montessori

Athena Kinderhaus

Sreenidhi International School

Sancta Maria International

These field visits are thoughtfully curated to immerse children in the rhythms and richness of sustainable living. For instance, during banana harvesting, children walk through lush green groves, learning how food grows in clusters, how to identify ripeness naturally, and how harvesting with care supports plant health and reduces waste. In soil study sessions, they get their hands dirty—literally—sifting through layers of soil, discovering earthworms, and understanding how organic matter turns into fertile ground through natural cycles.

At the Organo Dairy Incubation Center, children interact with gentle native cattle, learn about the features of Gir cows and even get to try their hand at making ghee, butter and cheese the traditional way. This fosters empathy, respect for animals, and a deeper understanding of where milk truly comes from. The children also learn about biogas as a sustainable energy source. 

Composting activities allow children to experience the transformation of food scraps and garden waste into rich, living soil. They learn the importance of reducing kitchen waste, the magic of microorganisms, and how every little bit we save and return to the earth completes a cycle of renewal.

Each of these real-world experiences is intentionally designed to go beyond textbook knowledge, grounding children in sensory, emotional, and practical learning. They not only spark curiosity but also instill reverence for nature’s interconnected systems, laying the foundation for lifelong environmental consciousness.

Raising te Next Generation of Change Makers

At OES, we believe that change doesn’t begin with big leaps—it starts with tiny hands planting seeds, asking questions, and sharing stories. Our collective goal is to nurture this love for nature in every child, so they grow up to become environmental stewards—regardless of the profession they choose.

Let’s remember: No change is too small.

When children are encouraged to fall in love with their local environment, the path to sustainability opens naturally. With STEL as our guide, we’re sowing the seeds of environmental leadership—joyfully, consciously, and together.

About Organo Et School (OES)‍‍

‍Organo Et School empowers people to embrace eco-living mindsets, behaviors, and habits. We recognize that for any positive impact to be sustainable, it must be long-term and inter-generational.

Organo Et School is a learning initiative set up by Organo in 2017 and has been facilitating field visits and workshops for Schools and Interest Groups. Organo Et School, an experiential learning initiative by Organo since 2017, has impacted over 8000 students, 2000 adults,1250 community residents, and 500 corporate employees.

Join us on our journey toward sustainable living by subscribing to our channel and following us on Instagram for the latest updates.

Email us at at oes@organo.co.in  or call us at 91541 00775

Subscribe to our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVe5InTKtgyGsGgNVNZ5sOw

Follow OES news on our Website: https://www.organoetschool.co.in

Follow OES on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/organo_et_school/?hl=en

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