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.
- Free Plan
Where Do Natural Resources Come From? Differentiated Worksheet
Explore where natural resources are found with a pair of differentiated natural resource worksheets.
- Free Plan
Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint – Poster and Worksheet
Explore how to reduce your carbon footprint with this poster and accompanying comprehension worksheet.
- Free Plan
Recycling Word Search
Build your students’ vocabulary around the topic of recycling with this recycling-themed word search.
- Free Plan
Environmental Awareness Flip Book - Earth Day Activity
Use this flip book to build awareness of actions that are good and bad for the environment.
- Plus Plan
Trash, Recycle, and Compost Posters
Remind your students where to put their waste with these trash, recycling, and compost posters.
- Free Plan
Recycling I Spy and Sort Worksheet
Sort different pieces of trash into their appropriate bins with this I Spy worksheet.
- Free Plan
The Recycling Process Poster
Show your students the process materials go through when they are recycled with printable recycling posters.
- Plus Plan
Earth Day Coloring Pages
Give your students these beautiful Earth Day coloring sheets to promote sustainability and conservation.
- Plus Plan
Deforestation-Infographic Analysis Activity
Read and understand an infographic about Deforestation with a thought-provoking poster and comprehension questions.
- Plus Plan
Carbon Footprint Draw and Write
Help your students be more eco-conscious by having them complete a carbon footprint worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Earth Day Foldables
Display different ways to conserve resources with a set of fun recycling–based foldable interactive notebook templates.
- Plus Plan
Helping the Earth Flipbook - Primary
Use this printable recycling flipbook with your students to teach them about ways to help Earth.
- Plus Plan
Recycling Writing Prompts - Earth Day Worksheets
Differentiate writing instruction in primary grades with informational writing prompts about recycling and conservation.
- Plus Plan
Reduce Reuse Recycle! - Printable Earth Day Read-Alouds
Teach your students to reduce, reuse, and recycle with a printable 3 Rs Mini-Book.
- Plus Plan
Earth Day Mini Book
Help your young students learn and write about Earth Day with a printable Earth Day book for kids.
- Plus Plan
Being Water Wise - Saving Water Poster Project
Learn and demonstrate knowledge about water conservation with a "Being Water Wise" poster project.
- Plus Plan
How to Save Water Poster and Worksheet Pack
Teach your students ways to save water with a printable poster and worksheet pack.
- Plus Plan
How Can We Help Our Planet Mini Book
Make an Earth Day mini book that your students can complete to explain how they can help the planet.
- Plus Plan
My Promise to the Earth - Flipbook Template
Make a promise to protect the planet with a printable Earth Day flip book.
- Plus Plan
Recycling Writing Prompts - Primary
Show off your procedural writing skills with a pack of recycling writing prompts.
- Plus Plan
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.
- Plus Plan
How is Plastic Recycled? – Recycling Worksheets
Explore the process of recycling plastic with a printable recycling worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Recycling Card Game - SNAP!
Use this card game to reinforce the correct containers to be used for recycling, composting, and discarding waste.
- Plus Plan
Earth Day Craft - 3 Rs Mobile Template
Inspire your students to reduce, reuse, and recycle with a fun Earth Day craft project.
- Earth Hour Posters
- Earth Hour Worksheets
- Earth Hour Templates
- Earth Hour Writing Templates
- Earth Hour Word Searches
- Earth Hour Flipbooks
- Earth Hour Puzzles
- Earth Hour Word Walls
- Earth Hour Projects
- Earth Hour Instructional Slide Decks
- Earth Hour Custom Studio Resources
- Earth Hour Coloring Pages
- Earth Hour Sorting Activities
- Earth Hour Card Games
- Earth Hour Craft Activities
- Earth Hour Games
- Earth Hour Mini Book
- 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