General information about the Whole Child, Healthy Planet Curriculum Guides

With a learning styles-centered approach, and concentration in diversity and developmental stages, our elementary program focuses on engaging the whole child. The curriculum combines a student-centered approach (creative, flexible, holistic, and experiential, with a learning styles focus) with an emphasis on peace, justice, diversity, and sustainability.

The curriculum guides are centered on the four core principles of the Earth Charter:

(1) Respect and Care for the Community of Life
(2) Ecological Integrity
(3) Social and Economic Justice
(4) Democracy, Nonviolence, Peace and Diversity

Our K-8 curriculum guides cover all of the core academic subjects in a way that engages students through a sense of enchantment, awe, and wonder as well as through incorporation of art, music, nature, imagination, and story.


“Living Books”

While most standard curriculum is shaped by a textbook and a workbook, the Global Village Whole Child, Healthy Planet Curriculum guides are built around the inspiration found in many types of literature. Sometimes we do suggest a text or a workbook, but more often we look for books that will foster the same learning in a more creative, beautiful and fulfilling way. In many ways our choice of books resembles the idea of “living books” that early home educator Charlotte Mason proposes. Some of the qualities of living books are:

(1) Literature created by a person with an obvious special interest in his/her subject.
(2) A personal, human, emotional quality to what is presented.
(3) Books that are inspiring and attractive to the student’s spirit as well as intellect.
(4) Books that promote a sense of wonder and appreciation.

A few of the authors whose work is featured or recommended in our K8 curriculum include Craig and Marc Kielburger, Alice Walker, Howard Zinn, Sherman Alexie, Julia Butterfly Hill, Deborah Ellis, Barbara Lewis, Beatrix Potter, Roald Dahl, Rudyard Kipling, Scott O’Dell, Shel Silverstein, and Madeleine L’Engle.

A sampling of the books in our K8 curriculum includesKids’ Guide to Service Projects, Everyday Life in the Ancient World, Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak, and A Child’s Introduction to the Night Sky, as well as novels, nature journals, and much more.