Year 1 – 2 | School Shade Audit

Protecting My Skin full resource download  |  Concept 5: Taking positive action to reduce risk download

Background

The School Shade Audit activity is a great way for students (and staff) to recognise the shady areas located in commonly
used areas at your school, such as where students eat their lunch. The activity is designed to shift healthy lifestyle choices/
behaviours and encourage students to seek shaded areas for outdoor activities and eating areas. It reinforces the SunSmart
message that seeking shade is one of the five important strategies of preventing skin damage from UV radiation.

Key messages

• Seeking shade is important when it comes to protecting our skin from UV.
• Best sun protection practices are using a combination of Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide.
• Slip on a shirt: long sleeves, long shorts, collar or high neckline, close weave fabric and loose fitting.
• Slop on some sunscreen: SPF50 or SPF50+, broad-spectrum water-resistant and a valid expiry date. 1 teaspoon per limb,
  apply to clean, dry skin 20 mins before going outdoors and reapply every 2 hours or more if sweating, towel drying or
  swimming. Do not rub in, instead layer it on!
• Slap on a hat: a broad-brimmed, bucket or legionnaire style hat that covers the face, neck, ears, and head.
  Caps are not SunSmart!
• Seek shade: whenever possible, make use of natural or built shade. Bring your own portable shade such as umbrellas,
  tents, or marquees.
• Slide on some sunglasses: close fitting, wrap around style offer the best protection. Hats also provide
  protection to the eyes.

Resources

• Clipboards or something for students to lean on
• Map of the school grounds
• Coloured pencils
• Cone or marker

Instructions

1. Display or distribute a map of the school grounds. Google Maps may assist.
2. In pairs, students survey the school at three different times of the day to identify where and when different areas are in
   full sun or in the shade or protected from the sun. Place a cone in that spot and return to check this throughout the day.
3. Ask students to search for shady places to play outdoors, for example, under verandahs, trees, shade sails and large
   umbrellas.
4. Students identify areas of full sun exposure, partial shade and full shade and record on their map using
   different colours for the times of the day
5. Students display their findings using a legend to assist in interpretation.
6. Students explore practices that they can adopt/implement in the school setting to improve health and wellbeing of the
   class and reduce the sun exposure and UV risk.

Key questions

• How do shady places feel?
• Where are the best shady places to sit and play at your school?
• Which areas need improving? Why? Where do you like to sit to eat?
• How can we improve shade at our school?
• Why is it important to protect ourselves from the sun?
• Does the sun move at different times of the day?

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