Earth Hour - Climate Change Experiment

This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:

• creative thinking
• critical thinking
• communication
• global citizenship
• problem solving

Australian Curriculum (v9.0) content description:

Foundation to Year 2, Science

• engage in investigations safely and make observations using their senses (AC9SD102)
• make and record observations, including informal measurements using digital tools as appropriate (AC9S1I03, AC9S2103)

Relevant parts of Foundation achievement standards: Students engage in investigations and make observations safely.

Relevant parts of Year 1 and 2 achievement standards: Students follow safe procedures to make and record observations. They suggest steps to be followed in an investigation. 

NSW Syllabus outcomes:

• observes, questions and collects data to communicate and compare ideas (ST1-1WS-S).

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Literacy, Personal and Social Capability 

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability

Level of teacher scaffolding: High - conduct an experiment with students.

UN SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

• Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.

• Device capable of displaying audiovisual material
• Ice cubes (with food colouring)
• Timer or stopwatch
• Two identical plastic containers or one divided container
• Water (room temperature)
• Whiteboard

Earth Hour is a WWF-Australia initiative and the world’s largest community-driven climate change campaign. At the centre of Earth Hour is switching off lights to show a commitment to action. Thousands of educators use Earth Hour’s education program to enrich their curriculum and provide pathways for young people to create change in their world. For the most up-to-date Earth Hour dates, times, and events, check here.

How to Teach Sustainability With Hope

Quick Summary: This course will help you bring hope to challenging, upsetting or worrying topics around sustainability.