Year 1-2 | Now That’s a SunSmart Hat
Protecting My Skin full resource download | Concept 1: The Sun and Our Skin download
Background
There are many wonderful picture books available that can be used to promote awareness and discussion about sun
protection. ‘Now That’s a Hat’ by Heath McKenzie is a hilarious rhyming story with vibrant illustrations about finding the
right hat. It is available online, in hard copy and a read aloud on YouTube. Students design and make a SunSmart hat
that will pass the SunSmart Hat Test. To pass the SunSmart Hat Test, it must provide shade to the face, neck, ears and
crown of the head.
Key Messages
- SunSmart hats provide protection to the face, neck, ears and crown of the head.
- Caps are not sun protective. SunSmart hats include broad-brimmed, legionnaire or bucket hats.
- If you have forgotten your hat, play in the shade. No hat, play in the shade is the preferable approach to a ‘no hat no play’ rule.
- Wearing a hat is a healthy lifestyle choice.
- 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
- Read aloud Now That’s a Hat
- Resource sheet: SunSmart Hat Test Template
- Craft supplies and recycled materials
- Glue and sticky tape
- Torch
Instructions
- Explore and research different types of hats. Have students bring in a hat from home.
- Do a SunSmart hat test: Does it provide shade to the face, neck, ears and crown of the head?
- Use a torch from above as the ‘sun’ to test for shaded vs exposed skin.
- Draw a SunSmart hat design and label its SunSmart features.
- Turn your design into a hat! Using recycled and craft materials make your SunSmart hat.
- Once finished do another SunSmart hat test.
- Celebrate! Show off your SunSmart hats at your next school assembly or email photos to the SunSmart Team at Cancer Council WA
at sunsmart@cancerwa.asn.au
Key questions
- What makes a hat SunSmart?
- Why do we need to wear a hat?
- Why is shade so important?
- What other ways can you protect yourself from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun?
- Why is important to wear sunscreen as well as a hat?