Year 3 – 4 | Charting the UV Index and Weather Conditions

Protecting My Skin full resource download  |  Concept 2: Heat and UV from the sun: What’s the difference? download

Background

This lesson is designed to consolidate students’ understanding about the difference between ultraviolet (UV) radiation and
heat (temperature). Students record the UV Index, temperature and also weather conditions (sunny, overcast, windy, cloudy,
rainy) over 3 days (or several days), at the same time in the morning and afternoon. Recording the difference between
temperature and UV Index provides an opportunity to compare temperature vs UV rating. Students may use a UV meter (if
your school owns one) to gather UV results. Alternatively, students can use the MyUV.com.au website or download the free
SunSmart Global UV app to retrieve live and or forecast UV data for some selected locations.

NOTE: the app uses real-time UV readings at locations within a 100km radius of an ARPANSA monitoring station, which are located
in high population areas. In Western Australia, that location is in Perth. Locations outside of the Perth area will be shown as clear
sky UV forecasts.

Key messages

• The UV Index is an open-ended numerical scale that measures the amount of UV radiation reaching the earth’s surface.
• The free SunSmart Global UV app tells you when sun protection is recommended for your location.
• We often check the weather forecast, but it is also important to check the daily UV Index forecast to protect our skin
  from UV radiation.
• Checking the UV Index forecast helps us determined when the UV Index is 3 or above and sun protection is required.
• UV radiation is invisible, you cannot see it or feel it.
• UV and heat are not the same thing. It is not only when it is hot that we need to use sun protection.
• The UV Index can be 3 or above when it is cool and cloudy too.
• When UV levels are at their peak, minimise time outdoors during these times.

Resources

• Activity sheets: Charting the UV Index and Weather Conditions
• Activity sheet: Charting the UV Index
• MyUV.com.au
• SunSmart Global UV app
• How to read the daily UV forecast
• ARPANSA

Instructions

1. Divide students into pairs and distribute Charting the UV Index and Weather Conditions activity sheet.
2. At the same time every day one of the pairs will take a turn to go outside to record the UV Index and record the weather
   conditions (sunny, overcast, windy, cloudy, rainy, etc.).
3. Students may also use the MyUV.com.au website, or download and use the SunSmart Global UV app to retrieve UV
   readings and UV data. Depending on where you are located, this may be real-time, or predicted, clear sky levels.
4. Students should record their findings in the logbook or chart.

Key questions

• What is the UV Index?
• What does the UV Index tell us?
• What is the difference between UV and heat?
• What factors affect the UV levels?
• Where can you find information about the UV forecast?
• When is UV at its highest during the day?
• What are some ways we can protect our skin?
• Why is it important to protect our skin?
• How can we incorporate and use the SunSmart Global
  UV app in our daily routines?