Year 3 – 4 | Poster Persuasion

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

Background

Posters are an effective way to help communicate, educate and share important SunSmart messages to different
demographics. The poster persuasion lesson is broken up into two parts. Part 1 involves analysing historical and current
SunSmart posters. Part 2 involves developing a SunSmart poster promoting important sun protection messages to a
particular audience such as children or adolescents.

Key messages

• Research has established that childhood and adolescence are both critical periods during which sun exposure could
  contribute to skin cancer later in life.
• It is estimated that more than 75% of all skin cancers could be prevented by practicing sun protective behaviours in
  childhood and adolescence.
• There are five strategies to protect your skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
• Slip on a shirt, Slop on sunscreen, Slap on a hat, Seek shade and Slide on sunglasses.
• The sun produces 3 things, light that we can see, heat that we can feel and ultraviolet (UV) radiation that we cannot
  see or feel.
• Skin damage is caused by UV radiation, not temperature.
• A cool or overcast day can have similar UV levels to a warm, sunny day.
• UV and heat are not the same thing, it’s not only when it is hot that we need to use sun protection.

Resources

• Resource sheet: Historical SunSmart Posters
• SunSmart posters
• Exercise books or blank paper
• Generation SunSmart

Instructions

Part 1

1. Make multiple copies of the historical SunSmart posters and current posters from the Generation SunSmart website.
2. Analyse SunSmart posters and discuss key questions.
3. Select one poster and glue in the centre of the page.
4. Brainstorm and write comments and ideas surrounding the poster answering key questions.
5. Compare your answers and share ideas with class members.

Part 2

6. Students design and create a SunSmart poster with a partner using the information and knowledge from Part 1 of the
   activity. Students decide on their target audience and key SunSmart message.

Key questions

• What is the key message portrayed in each poster? How do you know? What are the clues?
• What strategies and behaviours can promote health in relation to sun and UV exposure?
• What strategies have been used to effectively portray the SunSmart message?
• Who is the targeted audience?
• Why do we still need the sun protection message?
• Do you think the adverts are effective in spreading the SunSmart message? Why or why not?

Extension

• Send your fabulous posters to sunsmart@cancerwa.asn.au and we will send your school some SunSmart resources.