📅 September 16 · International Awareness Day
Every September 16, schools around the world have the opportunity to connect students to one of humanity’s greatest environmental success stories. World Ozone Day marks the signing of the Montreal Protocol — the landmark treaty that began reversing damage to our planet’s protective shield. Bring this story of global cooperation to life through hands-on, collaborative projects that connect your classroom to the world.
First designated by the UN General Assembly in 1994, this annual observance commemorates September 16, 1987 — the date the Montreal Protocol was signed by nations united in a common goal: to halt the destruction of the ozone layer that shields all life on Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. Celebrated as the most successful multilateral environmental agreement in history, the Protocol has phased out over 99% of ozone-depleting substances. This achievement sits at the heart of SDG 13: Climate Action, reminding students that determined global cooperation can — and does — change the trajectory of environmental crises.
Yet the story of the ozone layer is not finished — and your classroom can be part of the next chapter. While recovery is on track, continued vigilance, innovation, and environmental education remain essential. The global classroom model at Class2Class gives students a direct role in this story: rather than reading about atmospheric challenges in a textbook, they investigate them together with peers from around the world and design real responses. Education for sustainable development means helping students understand not only what went wrong, but also what worked — and the Montreal Protocol is one of the most powerful examples worth celebrating, studying, and building upon.
Want to explore more awareness days? Visit our SDG Calendar for year-round project based learning opportunities.
Through ozone-themed projects, students develop the scientific thinking, creative expression, and global awareness our planet needs.
Students explore the science of ozone depletion, UV radiation, and the impact of human choices on Earth's atmosphere — connecting local actions to global consequences.
From analysing data about ozone recovery to designing atmospheric protection campaigns, students learn to think like scientists and problem-solvers.
Whether crafting illustrated storybooks or prototyping technological solutions, students express their understanding of the ozone layer through original, imaginative work.
Connecting with classrooms across continents, students discover that protecting the atmosphere is a shared responsibility — and that young people everywhere can be part of the solution.
Two ready-to-use Class2Class projects for different age groups — both designed to turn September 16 into a memorable learning experience.
Ages 6–13 · English
Young students team up across borders to create a collaborative illustrated storybook about the ozone layer — combining creative writing, art, and science.
Ages 13–18 · English
Secondary students become environmental innovators, using design thinking to investigate ozone depletion and launch real awareness campaigns with global partners.
Project Idea · Ages 6–13
Ozone Chronicles invites students aged 6 to 13 to become storytellers for the planet on world ozone day. Over four weeks, partner classrooms collaborate to build a shared illustrated storybook — part adventure tale, part science lesson — about the ozone layer and why it matters. With every chapter written, students deepen their understanding of climate action while practising creative writing, visual storytelling, and cross-cultural teamwork.
Ozone Chronicles is a Class2Class project that harnesses storytelling to make environmental science vivid and memorable for young learners. Students aged 6 to 13 from partner classrooms around the world collaborate over four weeks to co-author an illustrated adventure storybook about the ozone layer — its importance, the threats it faces, and the heroes working to protect it. Using the COIL methodology, each phase builds on the last: from icebreaker introductions to co-writing chapters to a final shared presentation of the finished book. By the end, students not only understand the science behind this awareness day — they have created something lasting to share with their entire school community.
Creativity & Innovation
Students design original story chapters, characters, and illustrations — channelling scientific knowledge about the ozone layer into vivid, imaginative storytelling.
Environmental Awareness
Crafting a story about ozone layer protection requires students to genuinely understand how it works, why it matters, and what threatens it.
Collaboration & Teamwork
Building a shared storybook with a classroom on the other side of the world teaches students to listen, co-create, and adapt across cultural and linguistic differences.
Communication
Students practise written expression, visual communication, and presentation skills as they bring their illustrated chapters to life for an international audience.
Project Idea · Ages 13–18
Innovating for Atmospheric Protection challenges students aged 13 to 18 to move beyond awareness and take real action for world ozone day. Over four weeks, teams collaborate with international partners to research ozone depletion issues, identify a challenge worth solving, and develop an innovative campaign or technological prototype to address it. The result is science, design thinking, and global citizenship fused into a single powerful project.
Innovating for Atmospheric Protection is a design-thinking-based Class2Class project that transforms students aged 13 to 18 into environmental leaders for the ozone layer. Partner classrooms from different countries collaborate to research a real aspect of atmospheric protection — whether the chemistry of ozone depletion, the impact of UV radiation on local ecosystems, or the ongoing challenge of phasing out harmful substances. Using the COIL methodology across four structured weeks, teams move from investigation to ideation to prototype, presenting their solutions — awareness campaigns, policy proposals, or technological innovations — to their international peers. By September 16, students don't just know about world ozone day; they have lived its spirit of global cooperation firsthand.
Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving
Applying design thinking to real atmospheric protection challenges pushes students to question assumptions, analyse data, and build evidence-based solutions.
Environmental Awareness
Deep-diving into ozone depletion science, students understand the causes, consequences, and recovery pathways of one of Earth's most vital protective systems.
Leadership
Students take ownership of their team's research and innovation process, guiding peers through investigation, prototyping, and a high-stakes international presentation.
Global Citizenship
Collaborating with peers from different countries to address a shared environmental challenge embodies the spirit of the Montreal Protocol and SDG 13.
The ozone layer's recovery is one of humanity's great stories of what international cooperation can achieve — and your students can be part of continuing that story. Join teachers from over 137 countries on world ozone day and connect your classroom to the world for free. Explore our SDG Calendar for more awareness day projects aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
