Year 5 – 6 | The World in UV (Perception and Reality)

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

Background

This lesson aims to consolidate and extend student knowledge about ultraviolet (UV) radiation and the importance
of sun protection. Students view a video that explains UV cameras and how they expose a hidden world and reveal the
incompleteness of our perception. Students complete a World in UV concept map.

Key messages

• 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
• The sun produces UVA (skin damage/skin cancer, ageing, wrinkles), UVB (sunburn, skin cancer) and UVC (doesn’t reach
  earth)
• 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 too
• UV radiation can bounce and reflect off surfaces, so it is important to use all five forms of sun protection. Slip, Slop,
  Slap, Seek and Slide
• Sunscreen not only reduces the risk of skin cancer and sunburn, it also decreases the effects of ageing on the skin from
  the sun
• Broad spectrum sunscreen protects the skin from both UVA and UVB rays.

Resources

• The World in UV
• www.myuv.com.au
• Activity sheet: The World in UV Concept Map

Instructions

1. Activate prior knowledge of UV and ask key questions to prompt discussion.
2. Watch The World in UV and make notes.
3. Replay the video and prompt discussion.
4. Brainstorm key points, topics and ideas together on whiteboard.
5. Distribute the concept map or provide students with paper to develop their own.
6. Develop their concept map using the brainstorm and key questions to prompt sub-topics.
7. Share their concept maps, including any new ideas or topics.

Key questions

• What does UV stand for? What is UV?
• What do you know about UV?
• How does UV affect us?
• How do I protect against UV?
• Is UV invisible? Can it travel through materials?
• Is UV the same as heat?