Year 5 – 6 | Power of the Sun

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

Background

Students can create wonderful artwork using the power of the sun, while learning about the harmful effects of ultraviolet
(UV) radiation. The sun produces 3 things; heat that you can feel, light you can see and UV that you cannot see or feel. UVB
is known to cause sunburn and contribute to skin cancer risk, and UVA penetrates to the deeper layers of skin and can also
contribute to skin cancer from DNA damage. This activity demonstrates to students how sunscreen, or protective clothing
counteracts or screens the effects of UV radiation.

Key messages

• We often check the weather forecast, but it is also important to check the daily UV Index to protect our skin from
  UV radiation
• When the UV Index is 3 or above, sun protection is required
• UV radiation is invisible, you cannot see or feel it
• UV and heat are not the same thing, it’s 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: Slip, Slop,
  Slap, Seek and Slide
• When UV levels are at their peak, minimise time outdoors during these times.

Resources

• UV photo-sensitive paper (Sunprint Kit-available online)
• Sunscreen
• Cotton tips (for applying sunscreen)
• Cardboard cut to size (for stability)
• Clear zip-lock bag or plastic sleeve
• Bowl of water
• Timer

Instructions

1. Apply the sunscreen onto plastic sleeve using your finger or cotton tip. Be careful the sunscreen is kept within the border
   of the Sunprint paper.
2. Assemble in order: cardboard, Sunprint paper, acrylic sheet and sunscreen on plastic sleeve.
3. Expose to the sun until paper turns almost white, from 1-5 minutes depending on the sunlight. Be careful not to
   overexpose the paper.
4. Quickly rinse the Sunprint paper with water for about 1 minute and dry flat. The paper may appear very white at first,
   but as the paper dries the blue paper and white print becomes brighter and clearer.

Key questions

• Why do you think the paper changed colour?
• What is UV radiation?
• What are some ways we can protect our skin?
• Why is it important to protect our skin?
• What does the UV Index tell us?

Variations

• Experiment by testing sunscreen with different Sun Protection Factor (SPF)
• Use objects such as leaves, flowers or feathers
• Experiment using a UV torch on the paper rather than natural sun light
• Frame the artwork using pop sticks or balsa wood glued together along the border.