Year 5 – 6 | Let’s PEEL Back a Myth

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

Background

This lesson encourages critical thinking strategies and challenges students’ point of view around protecting our skin, sun
protection, sunscreen and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Students consolidate and extend their SunSmart knowledge while
learning and/or practicing writing paragraphs using the PEEL method.

The PEEL paragraph method is a technique used in writing to help structure paragraphs in a way that presents a single clear
and focused argument:

• P = Point: Make your point – start your paragraph by stating your point
• E = Evidence/Example: Back it up and support your point with evidence and examples
• E = Explanation: Explain in more detail how the evidence supports your point
• L = Link: Link this point to the next point.

Key messages

• There are many different messages and information that can influence our health decisions and behaviours. It is
  important to make informed decisions and choose a course of action that avoids risks and reduces harm
• Look for information from credible sources to make informed decisions around sun protection
• It is important to challenge viewpoints, question information and seek evidence from a credible source.

Resources

• Be SunSmart – Cancer Council Australia
• Generation SunSmart
• SunSmart – Cancer Council WA
• PEEL paragraphs
• Activity sheet: Peel Paragraph Template

Instructions

1. Activate prior knowledge by asking key questions.
2. Students research facts and interesting information about the sun and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, ensuring that
   information is gathered from a credible source. Student may like to make notes in their exercise books or lined paper.
3. Select an element, fact or understanding of sun protection or UV radiation.
4. Using the PEEL paragraph template, discuss and create notes about the selected element or fact under each heading.
5. Develop a paragraph in exercise books using the PEEL paragraph template and notes.
6. Present or share paragraph with the class and discuss.

Key questions

• How do you know if you are visiting a credible website with factual information?
• What positive actions you can take in your own life to minimise the effects of each fact?
• What are some actions or solutions to health issues that are related to UV radiation exposure?
• Why do you think there is some false information available around UV protection?