Promote environmental awareness in the classroom for Earth Hour 2023 with activities, printables, word walls, posters, and charts to help students learn about their carbon and ecological footprint, composting, the recycling process, and more! This collection of Earth Hour teaching resources was created by the teachers of the Teach Starter team for elementary school teachers. It includes curriculum-aligned templates, worksheets and activities to help students think about what it means to be environmentally responsible and lead sustainable lives.

Curious about Earth Hour and how to create lesson plans for the event? Read on for a quick primer from our teacher team!

What Is Earth Hour?

Earth Hour is an annual event organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) where individuals, communities, and businesses are encouraged to turn off non-essential lights for one hour to raise awareness about climate change and to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability. The event typically takes place on the last Saturday in March — when students are likely to be at home — and encourages people to take action to reduce their carbon footprint and conserve energy. The event began in Sydney, Australia in 2007 and has since grown to become a global event. It's now celebrated all around the world with millions of people in more than 180 countries participating each year.

When Is Earth Hour 2023?

Earth Hour is held annually for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the last Saturday of March. It will be held at 8.30 p.m. local time, Saturday, March, 25, 2023.

What Can You Do for Earth Hour in the Classroom?

Although Earth Hour is marked while students are typically at home, you can prepare for the event in the classroom! Here are a few tips from our teacher team:

Have a "lights out" party: Flip off the lights in the classroom for an hour, and have students do activities that don't require electricity.
Go for a walk or hike: Go for a walk or hike with your students to explore nature.
Do a science experiment: Teach your students about how energy is produced and used by doing a simple science experiment that demonstrates the effects of energy conservation.

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Earth Hour Poster

Make Every Day Earth Day Poster

10 Earth Hour 2023 Ideas for Teachers to Bring Sustainability Into the Classroom