Year 1-2 | KWL Chart: The Sun

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

Background

This activity explores the concept of the sun and is intended to activate students’ prior learning. It provides an opportunity
to monitor their comprehension and journey of learning about the sun. The KWL stands for K (what you Know), W (Want to
know) and L (what you Learnt). This strategy can be used as a whole class, in small groups, or as a pair activity. Students can
record their ideas and questions on a post-it note and attached to the chart or record their ideas directly to the chart.

The KWL chart can be used in two ways:

1. As a stand-alone lesson, completing part K and W first, followed by section L after watching/reading a text
   related to the sun.
2. As a documentation of students’ learning over a period of lessons. Complete sections K and W as an initial lesson and
   students continue to add questions to the W section and anything learnt in the L section throughout the program.

Resources

• Activity sheet: KWL Chart (enlarge to A3)
• Optional: library books about the sun
• YouTube Video – Ultraviolet Rays | How Harmful Are UV Rays
• Optional YouTube Video – What is the Sun?
• Optional YouTube Video – Sun Days Fun Days
• Post-it notes for recording ideas

Instructions

1. Select if strategy will be whole group, small groups, or a pair activity.
2. Create, display or distribute KWL Chart.
3. Show an image of the sun and discuss ideas and knowledge children have of the sun.
4. Students record their shared ideas under “K” on the classroom KWL Chart, “What they already KNOW.”
5. Next, ask students to record ideas under the “W” portion of their chart as to “What they WANT to know”.
6. Share ideas as a whole class and discuss.
7. Watch YouTube Video – Ultraviolet Rays | How Harmful Are UV Rays
8. Complete and record ideas under the “L” section of the chart, “what they have LEARNT” from the video.

Key questions

• What do you know about the sun?
• What are the good and bad things about the sun?
• What would you like to know about the sun?
• What does the sun produce that is harmful to our skin?
• What is ultraviolet (UV) radiation?
• Why is it important to protect our skin from UV?
• What are some ways we can protect our skin?