Year 1-2 | Effects of the Sun on Our Skin

Protecting My Skin full resource download  |  Concept 1: The Sun and Our Skin download

Background

This activity can be used as a follow-on from the Skin is Amazing lesson or a stand-alone activity to demonstrate that too
much sun can hurt your skin. It provides an opportunity for students to understand that UV radiation is produced from the
sun and that it is invisible. It leads into how we need to minimise over exposure to UV radiation and how to protect our skin.

Key Messages

• UV is invisible, you cannot see or feel it. We can see its effects though. If the UV Index is 3 or above, it can cause
  sunburn and skin damage.
• When the UV Index is 3 or above, sun protection is required.
• UV and heat are different. We do not only need to use sun protection when it is hot.
• UV radiation can bounce and reflect off surfaces, so it is important to use a combination of sun protection.
• There are 5 ways to protect your skin from the sun: Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide

Resources

• Apple, orange, kiwi fruit or other fruit/vegetable
• Vegetable peeler and small plates
• School iPad (to take photos)
• Timer
• Magnifying glasses (optional)
• Resource sheet: How UV Affects the Skin (see Lesson 2)

Instructions

1. If previous lesson was completed, revise and discuss the importance of our skin.
2. If a stand-alone lesson, observe and discuss the different skins on the fruit and relate to our own skin.
3. Watch Behind the News Sun Safety Video
4. Discuss and explain the experiment; we will test the effects of UV radiation on fruit skin. Remember it is invisible and we
   cannot see or feel it. How do we know that it is there?
5. Set up the peel of the fruit and whole fruit in on a small plate in the sun. Repeat the setup and put the plate in a shaded
   space. Ensure that students and staff have appropriate sun protection.
6. Set a timer for every 10 mins to take a photo of what happens to the whole fruit and peeled fruit skin in the sun. Do the
   same with the fruit in a shaded area.
7. Observe results and the sun’s effect on the fruit skin and discuss findings. Answer key questions to prompt further discussion.

Key questions

• What is UV radiation?
• What is causing the damage to the fruit skin? What did you notice?
• If UV radiation from the sun is invisible, how do we know that it is there?
• What are some ways we can protect our skin?
• Why is it important to protect our skin?

Extension

What would happen if you put sunscreen on the fruit?

When completing activities and lessons outdoors when the UV Index is 3 or above, please remember to be SunSmart!