Year 5 – 6 | SunSmart Gallery Walk

Protecting My Skin full resource download  |  Concept 4: Keeping Your Skin Sun Safe download

Background

Students work in small groups to complete a SunSmart gallery walk and answer several questions relating to ultraviolet
(UV) radiation and sun protection. Students engage in conversations and write down their ideas, thoughts, comments or
questions for each question and post it on the chart. A reflection sheet is provided to capture the process.
What is a gallery walk? A gallery walk is a classroom-based active learning strategy where students are encouraged to
build on their knowledge about a topic or content to promote higher order thinking skills, interaction and cooperative
learning. This discussion technique allows small groups of students to be actively engaged as they walk throughout the
classroom to share ideas and respond to meaningful questions.

Key messages

• There are many different health 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
• The sun produces heat that we can feel and light that we can see. It also produces 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
• The UV index can be 3 or above when it is cool and cloudy.

Resources

• Post it notes or blank cards
• Pencils, pens or markers
• Activity sheet: Reflection Sheet
• Pin up, white board or chart paper
• Optional: Timer for rotations

Instructions

1. Write key questions on a piece of chart paper or whiteboard. Hang or place the questions in various places around the
   classroom to create five stations.
2. Group students into teams and provide post it notes or cards. Each team starts at a different station.
3. At their first station, groups read what is posted and record their responses, thoughts, comments and opinions on the
   chart paper. Groups can add other questions to the charts.
4. On the first rotation, groups will read and discuss the question and the post it notes placed by the previous group. The
   group then record their responses, thoughts, comments and opinions on the post it notes and add it to the chart.
5. Groups rotate until each station has been completed.
6. Once the gallery walk has finished, all groups join for a whole class discussion and reflection of the task. During the
   discussion, address any misconceptions or questions raised. Ask students if there were anything they were surprised
   about.
7. Students clarify and provide additional information about the comments or opinions during the class discussion and
   complete the reflection sheet.

Key questions

• What do you know about UV?
• Describe some of the challenges with sun protection.
• What are some of the myths surrounding sun protection?
• What are some facts about sun protection and UV radiation?