Year 3 – 4 | Sun Aware Acrostic Poem

Protecting My Skin full resource download  |  Concept 1: The sun and our skin download

Background

An acrostic poem is a poem where certain letters in each line spell out a word, name or phrase. The Sun Aware Acrostic
Poem activity provides students with the opportunity to apply their ultraviolet (UV) radiation and sun protection knowledge
in a different context. Students can utilise vocabulary associated with sun protection and apply them into sentences. For
this activity, you have the option to use the template provided or complete the acrostic poem in exercise books.

Key messages

• The sun provides light we can see, heat we can feel and ultraviolet (UV) radiation that we cannot see or feel.
• When the UV Index is 3 or above, sun protection is required.
• 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.
• UV radiation can bounce and reflect off surfaces, so it is important to use a combination of sun protection strategies.
• There are 5 strategies to protect your skin from the sun: Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide.

Resources

• Activity sheet: Sun aware acrostic poem template
• Behind the News Sun Safety story

Instructions

1. Watch Behind the News Sun safety story and discuss key messages.
2. As a class, brainstorm words that focus on the importance of awareness, and taking responsibility for sun protection
   and limiting UV radiation exposure.
3. Discuss the meaning of each word and practise using them in sentences.
4. If using a template, students create an acrostic poem using the letters S-U-N-A-W-A-R-E to guide their sentences.
5. If using workbooks, students write the letters S-U-N-A-W-A-R-E down the page and write a sentence using the
   beginning letter on each line.
6. Students may have a go at creating more acrostic poems, but this time using other SunSmart words.

Key questions

• What does it mean to be sun aware?
• What words/vocabulary do you relate to sun aware?

Examples

• Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide are the 5 sun protection strategies
• UV Index 3 or above, sun protection is required
• Not temperature, think UV when protecting your skin from the sun
• A void being unprotected in the sun during the middle of the day
• Wear sun-protective clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses
• Apply SPF50 or SPF50+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen every two hours
• Reapply sunscreen as needed especially if in the water
• Educate your family and community about the need to be SUN AWARE.
• Other SunSmart words
• SunSmart, sun safe, UV radiation, protection, sunscreen, ultraviolet rays

Other SunSmart words

SunSmart, sun safe, UV radiation, protection, sunscreen, ultraviolet rays