Earth Hour Teaching Resources
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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My Promise to the Earth - Flipbook Template
Make a promise to protect the planet with a printable Earth Day flip book.
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How is Plastic Recycled? – Recycling Worksheets
Explore the process of recycling plastic with a printable recycling worksheet.
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Earth Day Quotes – Environmental Quote Poster Pack
Inspire sustainable practices in the classroom with a pack of printable Earth Day Quotes.
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Earth Day Vocabulary and Writing Pack
Help your young students learn and write about Earth Day with an illustrated word wall and writing prompts.
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What Can Be Recycled? Poster
A poster showing the products that can be recycled.
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Trash, Recycle, or Compost Sorting Activity
Learn about recycling, composting, and sustainable practices for waste management with a fun sorting activity.
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My Ecological Footprint - Worksheet
A worksheet for students to evaluate their family's ecological footprint and compare it with the class.
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Earth Day Foldables
Display different ways to conserve resources with a set of fun recycling–based foldable interactive notebook templates.
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Oil Spill Science Experiment
Investigate water pollution and discover the effects of oil spills on wildlife with a hands-on science lab!
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rethink Posters
Teach the concepts behind reducing, reusing, recycling, and rethinking waste with this set of 4 posters.
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Earth Day Mini Book
Help your young students learn and write about Earth Day with a printable Earth Day book for kids.
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Recycling Writing Prompts - Primary
Show off your procedural writing skills with a pack of recycling writing prompts.
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Recycling Card Game - SNAP!
Use this card game to reinforce the correct containers to be used for recycling, composting, and discarding waste.
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Brainstorming Sheets
Brainstorm All the Ways to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle with a pack of printable brainstorming worksheets.
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Carbon Footprint Draw and Write
Help your students be more eco-conscious by having them complete a carbon footprint worksheet.
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How to Save Water Poster and Worksheet Pack
Teach your students ways to save water with a printable poster and worksheet pack.
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Conserve Energy in the Classroom – Student Reminders
Inspire your students to conserve electricity with these energy-saving reminders that can be placed around the classroom.
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Natural Resource Use - Instructional Slide Deck
Explore how natural resources are used by humans in the 21st century with an instructional slide deck.
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Natural Resources Word Search
Review the different natural resources with a word search.
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Why Should We Compost? Poster
Use this poster set to explain why it is important to compost food scraps.
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Recycling Labels - Printable Bin Tags
Teach your students how to recycle in the classroom with labeled recycling bins!
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Acrostic Poem Template - PLANET
An acrostic poem template for the word ‘planet’ to use for Earth Day, during National Poetry Month, and when learning about the solar system.
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Make Every Day Earth Day Poster
A poster that encourages students to think about the Earth every day!
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Being Water Wise - Saving Water Poster Project
Learn and demonstrate knowledge about water conservation with a "Being Water Wise" poster project.
- Earth Hour Posters
- Earth Hour Templates
- Earth Hour Worksheets
- Earth Hour Writing Templates
- Earth Hour Flipbooks
- Earth Hour Puzzles
- Earth Hour Word Searches
- Earth Hour Word Walls
- Earth Hour Projects
- Earth Hour Instructional Slide Decks
- Earth Hour Card Games
- Earth Hour Craft Activities
- Earth Hour Games
- Earth Hour Custom Studio Resources
- Earth Hour Mini Book
- Earth Hour Sorting Activities
- Earth Hour Coloring Pages
- Earth Hour for Pre-K
- Earth Hour for Kindergarten
- Earth Hour for 1st Grade
- Earth Hour for 2nd Grade
- Earth Hour for 3rd Grade
- Earth Hour for 4th Grade
- Earth Hour for 5th Grade
- Earth Hour for 6th Grade
- Earth Hour for 7th Grade