Sun Safety Lesson Plans

Students discuss how to protect oneself from the sun.  In this sun safety lesson, students explore the movement of the sun throughout the day by tracing their shadows periodically using outdoor chalk.  Students discuss how the shorter the shadow, the more direct and powerful the sun's rays.  Students decide based on their shadows, what times are safest to play outdoors.  

Students explore how the sun affects skin. They examine causes of skin cancer and its complications. Students observe a video on skin cancer. They research skin safety. Students create posters and design games on sun safety.

Fifth graders look at how sunscreen works and track weather and UV index. In this health lesson, the teacher demonstrates how sunscreen works, then explains the concept of solar noon and how the sun's rays can burn skin. Students choose a city to gather information and weather data about and draw conclusions from the data, then read an "interview" with the sun and complete a quiz.

Students write a letter to an imaginary pen pal. In this sun safety and protection lesson, students discuss why it's important to protect themselves from the sun and the most effective sun safety items.  Students pretend they have an imaginary pen pal who lives outside whom they write a letter to about sun safety.

Students explore the importance of sun safety in relationship to skin cancer prevention. They test the effectiveness of various sunscreens and administer and analyze a simple survey to their peers. In addition, they implement a public service campaign designed to increase student use of sunscreen and sun safety awareness.

Students research the dangers of the sun and learn safety rules for the sun. In this sun safety lesson, students review the benefits of the sun and visit given websites to examine the dangers of the sun. Students discuss how to protect their skin and conduct a sunscreen experiment.

Students explore skin cancer rates within the United States. In this social studies lesson, students create a choropleth map of the United States that shows melanoma rates by state. Students write a public service announcement about sun safety.

Students explore the damaging effects of exposure to the sun, warning signs of skin cancer, and sun damage prevention. They work in small groups, create interesting, attractive and informative documents based on their group's research

Learners write a persuasive letter encouraging a friend to be sun safe. They identify safety precautions that can prevent injury from UV rays. Students circle the most effective sun safety items from the list on the board. They discuss why it is important to protect themselves from the sun.

Fourth graders investigate the harmful effects of the sun. For this health lesson, 4th graders review sun facts and complete several activities on the website www.sunsafetyalliance.org.