Sustainability, Culture, and Global Responsibility – (3N – 4D) – IB109
Thinking globally. Acting responsibly. Learning experientially.

Global Context: Globalization & Sustainability

Central Idea

Human communities respond to environmental, cultural, and social challenges through sustainable practices, shared values, and intercultural exchange in an increasingly interconnected world.

Lines of Inquiry

• How sustainable practices influence the way communities interact with their environment
• How globalization and cultural exchange shape identities, traditions, and lifestyles
• How responsibility and ethical choices support environmental conservation and living heritage

Age Group

MYP (Grades 6–10):
Learning experiences are designed with increasing conceptual depth and complexity, enabling students to explore sustainability, culture, and globalization through inquiry-based discussions, hands-on environmental action, observation, reflection, collaboration, and student-led dialogue. Tasks are differentiated to support varied cognitive levels while ensuring meaningful engagement, ethical awareness, and real-world application of learning.

Venue

Pondicherry – Tamil Nadu
Auroville – International Township
Dakshina Chitra – Tamil Nadu
(Living Heritage and Sustainability Learning Sites)

Learning Style

Inquiry-led • Experiential • Concept-driven • Reflective • Interdisciplinary • Ethics-integrated

Learner Profile Focus

Inquirer • Thinker • Communicator • Open-Minded • Caring • Knowledgeable • Reflective • Balanced

Includes

Pre-Tour • On-Tour • Post-Tour Learning Engagements

Programme Overview

“Sustainability, Culture, and Global Connections” is an inquiry-driven experiential learning programme designed for MYP students, using Pondicherry, Auroville, and Dakshina Chitra as real-world learning environments to explore environmental responsibility, cultural sustainability, and global interconnectedness.

Through structured pre-tour inquiry framing, immersive on-site engagement with coastal ecosystems, sustainable community models, heritage spaces, and intercultural artistic practices, and guided post-tour reflection and action, students investigate how human choices shape environmental outcomes, cultural identity, and shared global futures.

Key learning experiences include hands-on environmental action at Eden Beach, exploration of sustainable living practices at Auroville, participation in craft, music, and food-based sustainability workshops, engagement with spiritual and cultural spaces, and guided observation of South India’s living heritage at Dakshina Chitra.

The programme supports learners in understanding that sustainability and culture are dynamic systems shaped by human values, collaboration, and ethical decision-making. By observing real-world practices, analysing systems, reflecting on responsibility, and engaging with diverse communities, students develop critical thinking, environmental awareness, intercultural understanding, and global citizenship.

The programme is designed and facilitated by Crazy Holidays and its experiential learning resource team, ensuring high-quality delivery while remaining strongly aligned with IB MYP philosophy and audit expectations. Learning is intentionally structured across Pre-Tour, On-Tour, and Post-Tour phases, enabling students to connect inquiry with experience and reflection with meaningful action.

ATL Skills

Students develop Thinking, Research, Communication, Social, and Self-Management skills as they analyse sustainable systems, ask inquiry-driven questions, document observations through reflection and journaling, collaborate during environmental and cultural activities, manage time and responsibilities during travel, and make connections between local practices and global challenges.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Understand how sustainability influences community practices and lifestyles
• Explore the impact of globalization on culture, identity, and heritage
• Develop inquiry, observation, collaboration, and reflection skills
• Practise ethical decision-making in environmental and cultural contexts
• Build empathy and respect for diverse communities and living traditions
• Recognise individual and collective responsibility toward environmental conservation

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Identify sustainable practices and cultural influences across different communities
• Explain how globalization shapes environmental and cultural interactions
• Demonstrate collaboration, responsibility, and respect during experiential learning
• Make informed and ethical choices in real-world environmental and cultural contexts
• Connect sustainability, culture, and responsibility through reflection
• Apply global awareness and ethical thinking in school and community contexts