The story behind IYRA International School’s living learning garden
What if a garden could teach a child as much as a classroom? What if a leaf could begin a science lesson, a seed could inspire a question, and the soil beneath a child’s feet could reveal an entire world waiting to be discovered?
At IYRA International School, we believe that some of the most meaningful learning begins when children are given the freedom to explore the world around them. This belief finds expression in Amritavana — a living learning garden where plants, people and the planet come together to make learning a lived experience.
Guided by our motto of curiosity and our belief that Curiosity is our Compass, Amritavana is envisioned as more than a green space within the school. It is an invitation to pause, observe, wonder, investigate and understand.
What is Amritavana?
The name Amritavana brings together two meaningful ideas: Amrita, associated with life, vitality and nourishment, and Vana, meaning a forest, grove or natural space. Together, Amritavana represents a living space where nature nurtures knowledge, well-being and a deeper understanding of life.
At IYRA, we envision this garden as an extension of the classroom — a place where children learn not only about plants but also about their connections with people, traditions, science and the environment.
A plant is never just a plant here. It can be a lesson in biology, a connection to a family kitchen, a window into traditional knowledge, or the beginning of a question that leads to scientific discovery.
Amritavana brings these possibilities together in one evolving learning environment.
The story behind Amritavana: Why bring nature into learning?
Children are natural explorers. They notice things adults may overlook. They wonder why leaves have different shapes, why some flowers attract insects, why roots grow beneath the soil, and how a small seed becomes a growing plant.
These questions are not distractions from learning. They are the beginnings of it. Amritavana grows from a simple educational belief: children understand the world more deeply when they have opportunities to experience it directly.
Instead of only reading about plant growth, they can observe it. Instead of memorising the parts of a plant, they can examine them. Instead of learning about biodiversity as an abstract concept, they can notice insects visiting flowers and begin to understand the relationships that sustain life.
The first sapling, planted by Bhajan Bopanna, marked a meaningful beginning for this vision. It represented more than the planting of a tree; it marked the beginning of a space in which learning, nature and responsibility can grow together.
As Amritavana develops, we hope it will become a place where every visit offers a new observation, every observation leads to a question, and every question opens another pathway to learning.
Nature as a teacher: The environment matters
At IYRA, we believe that the spaces children inhabit can influence how they think, feel, interact and learn.
This connects with the educational philosophy often described in the Reggio Emilia approach, where the environment is understood as an educator in its own right. A thoughtfully designed space can invite exploration, encourage collaboration and give children opportunities to make meaning from their experiences. Amritavana brings this idea into the outdoor learning environment.
Its proposed learning zones are designed around different ways of discovering the natural world. A sensory garden invites children to notice fragrance, texture, colour and movement. A plant discovery zone encourages them to investigate roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds. A Plants & People zone connects vegetation with food, everyday materials, cultural practices and traditional knowledge. A Plant & Planet zone opens up conversations about pollinators, insects, birds, soil and biodiversity.
A science and investigation zone creates opportunities to ask questions, make predictions, observe changes and record findings.
Together, these spaces encourage children to see their surroundings as something to investigate, rather than simply pass through.
From observation to understanding: Learning beyond textbooks
Imagine a child holding a leaf and wondering why it feels different from another. Another child notices a bee visiting a flower. A group begins comparing how quickly seeds germinate under different conditions. Each moment offers a different entry point into learning.
At Amritavana, these experiences can connect with subjects across the curriculum:
- Science: Explore plant structures, germination, adaptation and living systems.
- Mathematics: Measure plant growth, compare observations and organise simple data.
- Language: Describe discoveries, record questions and share explanations.
- Environmental learning: Explore biodiversity, soil, water and the relationships between living things.
- Culture and everyday life: Discover how plants connect with food, materials and traditional knowledge.
The learning journey can grow with the child. Younger learners may begin by noticing colours, shapes and smells. Older students can compare plant growth, explore ecological relationships and conduct more structured investigations.
The process is simple, but powerful:
Experience → Observe → Question → Investigate → Understand → Care
This is how curiosity becomes knowledge — and how knowledge can become responsible action.
Why happiness belongs in learning
A child’s experience of school is shaped by more than lessons and assessments. It is also shaped by whether the child feels welcomed, heard, encouraged and confident enough to ask questions.
At IYRA, our commitment to children’s holistic development includes creating opportunities for meaningful relationships, emotional awareness, reflection and joyful participation in learning.
When children feel that their questions matter, they have greater reason to participate. When they are encouraged to explore without being afraid of making mistakes, they have room to experiment and revise their thinking. When they learn alongside others, they can practise listening, sharing ideas and respecting different perspectives.
Amritavana complements this vision by offering a setting where children can slow down, notice change, work together and experience the satisfaction of caring for something living.
A garden does not grow overnight. It asks for patience, attention and consistent care. These are valuable experiences for children, too.
Preparing children for 2030 and beyond
The future will ask more of children than the ability to remember information. They will need to ask meaningful questions, think critically, work with others, respond to change and take responsibility for their choices.
Amritavana offers a practical setting in which these capabilities can begin to develop.
When children investigate why one plant grows differently from another, they practise observation and reasoning. When they compare evidence, they begin to develop analytical thinking. When they work together on a gardening activity, they practise collaboration. When they care for plants and consider the needs of other living things, they begin to understand stewardship and sustainability.
These experiences do not replace strong academic foundations. They help children connect knowledge with the world in which they live.
At IYRA, preparing children for the future means helping them become confident learners who can think independently, remain curious, collaborate meaningfully and act with care.
Every plant has a story. Every child has a question.
Amritavana is a reminder that learning need not be confined to four walls. It can happen along a garden pathway, beside a flowering plant, through a conversation about a seed, or while observing the changing life of a leaf.
As this living learning space evolves, it will offer opportunities for children to connect classroom concepts with real experiences and develop a deeper relationship with the natural world.
Because when children learn to notice nature, they begin to ask better questions. When they ask better questions, they begin to understand more deeply. And when understanding is accompanied by care, learning becomes meaningful beyond the school years.
At IYRA International School, Amritavana is where curiosity takes root, knowledge grows through experience, and a sense of responsibility for the living world begins to flourish.
Curiosity is our Compass.
Explore IYRA’s experiential learning approach, learning spaces and environment programs.
