Earth Hour  

Highvale Primary School will be joining millions of people around the world by taking part in Earth Hour on Friday 27th March, helping our students understand the importance of caring for our planet. We will be turning off the power for one hour in our classrooms and doing a hands on activity that requires no screens or technology. Please look out for this display on the Green Teams display board in Week 10. 

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007 and has grown into a global movement that encourages individuals, schools, businesses, and communities to switch off their lights for one hour as a symbol of their commitment to protecting nature and taking climate action. The purpose of Earth Hour is not just to save electricity for sixty minutes, but to inspire people to think about how everyday choices can help create a healthier future for our planet. This year, our school will participate by taking part in simple, meaningful activities that highlight the importance of protecting the environment and appreciating the natural world around us. It’s a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn, reflect, and take action together as a community.

Earth Hour gives families, schools and communities a moment to pause and think about how daily habits affect the planet. It highlights issues like climate change, nature loss, and energy use, encouraging people to reflect on how small changes can add up to a meaningful impact. The hour often becomes a starting point for long‑term behaviour changes. Families may begin switching off unused lights, reducing waste, conserving water, or spending more time outdoors. These small habits contribute to the broader goal of restoring nature and reducing environmental impact.

We encourage our school community to participate at 8:30pm on Saturday 28th March by turning all power off for one hour. 

Here are some great ideas that you can do as a family during this hour;

• Candlelit dinner or picnic 
• Shadow puppets or torch games
• Stargazing in the backyard 
• Reading or storytelling by torchlight
• Night walk around the block
• Building with blocks or LEGO 
• Board games or card games

For more information on Earth Hour please visit this website https://www.earthhour.org.au/  

Key takeaways

Every year during Earth Hour, hundreds of millions of people around the world switch off their lights at 8.30pm. They do this to show their commitment to protecting the planet for future generations, and to encourage governments and corporations to increase their efforts to tackle climate change.

The goal of Earth Hour is to turn off all of your lights and spend 60 minutes of your time doing good for the planet. Dedicating an hour to honouring the Earth helps instil an appreciation for our environment in young minds.

Ideas to celebrate Earth Hour together at home:

• Candlelit Dinner or Picnic: Switch off all lights, light candles, and have a picnic on the floor.
• Shadow Puppet Theatre: Use torches to create shadows on the wall for a fun, low-light show.
• Board Game Night: Play family games by candlelight.
• Stargazing:  Lay on blankets to watch the stars, encouraging conversations about protecting the night sky.
• Reading by Flashlight: Gather around to read stories or tell tales using a single torch. 
• Darkness Scavenger Hunt: Hide items around the house and use flashlights to find them.
• Nature Walk: Go for a walk in the dark (in a safe area) to listen to the sounds of nature.