Year 5 – 6 | UV Across the Seasons

Protecting My Skin full resource download  |  Concept 3: Our seasons download

Background

This lesson aims to demonstrate that it is not only when it is summer when we need sun protection, but also during other
seasons. It is the ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun that causes skin damage not heat.

Key messages

• The angle of the earth to the sun creates the seasons. The intensity of the sun changes due to this angle. UV levels
  remain fairly constant during a season despite changes in local weather
• The UV Index is an open-ended numerical scale that measures the amount of UV radiation reaching the earth’s surface
• Checking the UV Index forecast helps us determine when the UV Index is 3 or above and sun protection is required
• UV radiation and heat are different
• Skin damage is caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, not temperature. A cool or overcast day can have similar UV levels
  to a warm, sunny day
• The free SunSmart Global UV app tells you when sun protection is recommended for your location
• We often check the weather forecast, but it is also important to check the daily UV Index to know when to protect our
  skin from UV radiation.

Resources

• Resource sheets: UV averages across Australian seasons
• Bureau of Meteorology: Average solar ultraviolet (UV) Index
• Activity sheet: Comparing UV averages across Australian seasons
• ARPANSA
• How the read the UV forecast poster
• SunSmart Global UV app

Instructions

1. Visit the Bureau of Meteorology website and display the average solar ultraviolet (UV) Index. The maps show the
   average annual, monthly and seasonal values of the UV index over Australia.
2. Search the UV Index for each month using the dropdown menu.
3. Note and discuss the images and data displayed for each month and related season.
4. Locate the area you live in and the UV Index for that time of the year.
5. Discuss and interpret carefully what the different colours indicate.
6. Complete the activity sheet using the UV Index averages across Australia season maps.

Key questions

• How does the data compare to the ‘typical data’ readings for that season?
• What are the UV Index levels forecast for our area today?
• What will be the highest UV Index level reached?
• When will it be at that level?
• At what times will the UV Index be 3 or more?
• At what times will we need to use sun protection?
• What do you notice about the four different maps of Australia at different times of the year?
• Which season has the lowest UV Index?
• Do you need sun protection in winter? Why? How do you know?
• Which month do you think the UV Index with be at its lowest for your area?