Results & Outputs
The Creative Story-Tellers project has produced a suite of innovative tools and resources that help early childhood educators bring sustainability to life through creative storytelling. All outputs are freely available as open educational resources (OERs) and can be explored below.
The Creative Story-Tellers SDG in ECEC Framework
The CST Framework lays the conceptual foundation of the project. It explores how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be meaningfully introduced in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) through creative, multimodal storytelling.
Developed collaboratively by partners from Austria, Finland, Germany, Greece, and Portugal, the framework builds on research, country analyses, and expert exchanges to identify curricular entry points, effective teaching methods, and examples of good practice in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
At its core, the framework simplifies the 17 SDGs into the 5Ps model –People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership- offering educators an accessible way to connect sustainability with children’s daily experiences.
The document includes:
- An overview of SDGs in ECEC – explaining why early engagement with sustainability matters and how it supports holistic child development.
- Country analyses – insights into how sustainability is currently embedded in preschool curricula across five European countries.
- The CST 5Ps Framework – practical guidance on linking sustainability themes to storytelling, creativity, and play.
- Good practices and methods – collected examples of arts-based, child-centred approaches that make sustainability tangible and age-appropriate.
The CST Framework serves as a roadmap for educators, curriculum developers, and preschool leaders, helping them connect sustainability education with creativity and imagination in early learning.
The Creative Story-Tellers Academy – Training of ECEC staff and educators
The Creative Story-Tellers Academy is a professional development programme for educators in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). It aims to strengthen teachers’ competences in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) through creative and digital storytelling.
The Academy introduces educators to new ways of helping children explore sustainability topics and express their ideas through imagination, play, and the arts.
It brings together expert input, hands-on examples, and stories from practice across partner countries.
The Academy is organised around three core modules, each supported by recorded webinars available on the project’s YouTube channel:
- Sustainability Education in ECEC – introducing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and showing how ESD can be naturally embedded in early learning.
- Creative Storytelling in ECEC – exploring storytelling as a pedagogical method that encourages children to co-create, reflect, and communicate through words, movement, music, and images.
- Digital Tools for Storytelling – presenting simple and accessible digital resources (e.g. photo, audio, and animation tools) that enrich children’s stories and connect creativity with technology.
All webinar recordings, handouts, and supporting materials are freely accessible as open educational resources.
The Creative Story-Tellers Toolkit – Online Course for Educators
The Creative Story-Tellers Toolkit is an interactive Moodle course that supports educators in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into everyday learning.
It provides practical ideas, ready-to-use activities, and creative storytelling methods that help children discover sustainability through play, imagination, and collaboration.
The Toolkit invites educators to explore how Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) can become a natural part of preschool life – encouraging curiosity, empathy, and early reflection on global challenges and our shared responsibility.
The Moodle course includes:
- Storytelling and role-playing methods – guidance on creative and multimodal approaches to explore sustainability themes in early childhood.
- Examples and short stories on SDGs – adaptable story ideas that can be recreated or expanded within learning groups.
- Creative classroom resources – printable materials such as storyboards, activity cards, art ideas, and simple games designed for children aged 3-6 years.
- Practical inspiration – real examples and photos from CST partner kindergartens showing how storytelling connects with nature, community, and everyday life.
All course materials are freely available as open educational resources and can be used independently or as part of the CST Academy training.
CST in Action
CST in Action brings together the experiences of educators, children, and families who have implemented the Creative Story-Tellers approach in their own kindergartens and preschools. Across five European countries, partners have transformed the CST Framework, Academy, and Toolkit into hands-on activities that connect storytelling, creativity, and sustainability.
These stories show how children explored the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through play, art, music, and digital media – discovering their own voice and role in caring for the world around them.
Explore how CST was put into practice by our partners:
- Deutsche Schule Athen (DSA) – Greece
- ROKIDS – Germany
- Südwind – Austria
- City of Oulu – Finland
- Casa do Professor – Portugal
Creative Story-Tellers Story Collection
The Creative Story-Tellers Story Collection presents the digital stories created by children in participating kindergartens and preschools across Europe.
With the consent of families and schools, these stories are shared online as a celebration of children’s voices, imagination, and growing awareness of sustainability.
Each story reflects how young learners understand the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through their own experiences – from caring for nature to friendship, fairness, and community.
By watching and discussing stories from other schools, children can discover new perspectives, compare ideas, and deepen their understanding of what sustainability means in everyday life.
See the Children’s Stories below