Year 3 – 4 | Our School Sun and Shade Audit

Protecting My Skin full resource download  |  Concept 5: Taking positive action to reduce risk: Promoting and actioning effective sun protection strategies download

Background

This lesson provides 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 and encourage
students to seek shaded areas for outdoor activities and eating areas. It also reinforces the SunSmart message that seeking
shade is one of the five important strategies of preventing skin damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Key messages

• Seeking shade is important to protect our skin from UV.
• Best sun protection practices are using a combination of Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide.
• Slip on a sun protective clothing: long sleeves, long shorts, collar or high neckline, close weave fabric and loose fitting.
• Slop on some sunscreen: SPF50 or SPF50+ broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB), water-resistant and with a valid expiry date.
• Apply1 teaspoon per limb, apply to clean, dry skin 20 minutes 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
• Shade Handbook
• Benefits of quality shade

Instructions

1. Distribute a map of the school grounds to students. Google Maps may assist.
2. Locate areas of the school that students mainly use.
3. Survey the school at three different times of the day and identify areas of full sun exposure, partial exposure and
   complete shade. Place a marker in that spot and return to check this throughout the day.
4. Record these areas on the map using different colours for the times of the day.
5. Identify areas that could be improved to reduce exposure to UV radiation.
6. Display findings using a legend to assist in interpretation. Include simple scales, legends or directions.
7. Whole class discussion on solutions to improve sun safety and increase shaded areas.
8. Explore practices to improve health and wellbeing of students and reduce UV radiation exposure in the school setting.
9. Prepare a presentation to answer the following questions:
   a. What did you discover by completing the sun and shade audit?
   b. Which areas need shade improvement? Why? What solution do you recommend?
   c. Why is it important to protect our skin from UV?

Key questions

• Write a letter to your Principal sharing your shade audit findings. Provide some suggested solutions and ideas for
  improving shade at your school.

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