Safety in the sun
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how to keep myself safe in the sun, what sun damage looks like, and what to do about it.
Key learning points
- Never let yourself get sunburnt: remember 'slip, slop, slap': slip on clothing, slop on sun cream, slap on a hat.
- Sun damage can occur in the UK from March to October, even when the sun does not feel warm.
- Apply sun cream before you go out, every two hours and after swimming.
- Sunbeds are more dangerous than sunlight and illegal for under 18s.
- Signs of skin cancer include new moles, growths or lumps, or any changes in existing moles or freckles.
Keywords
Melanoma - a serious type of skin cancer that starts in cells that make skin colour; it can spread to other body parts if not caught early
Ultraviolet (UV) - invisible light rays, mainly from the sun, that cause sunburns and can damage skin over time
Infrared (IR) - invisible light rays that can be felt as heat; they come from the sun, warm objects, and are used in remote controls and night vision
Fake tan - a cosmetic product that temporarily darkens your skin to look tanned without sun exposure
Mole - a small, usually dark spot on your skin made of clustered pigment cells; most are harmless, but changes in size or colour need checking
Common misconception
The sun can only damage my skin in the summer when it's hot.
The sun can damage the skin between March and October in the UK; clouds do not prevent UV rays getting through to our skin.
Teacher tip
As you teach the lesson, challenge the common misconceptions about sun safety, like the idea that "you only burn on hot days" and highlight that UV rays can still be harmful when it’s cloudy.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following is not a potential sign of breast cancer?
Q2.When carrying out a breast self-examination, you should complete this standing up and ...
Q3.Testicular cancer is most commonly found in men aged ...
Q4.Men should examine their testicles ...
Q5.If you notice any changes to your body, it’s important to not ...
Q6.A biopsy is ...
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following is a basic sun safety rule?
Q2.You should apply sun cream every hours and after swimming.
Q3.Match each word to its definition.
invisible light rays from the sun that cause sunburns/skin damage
a small, usually dark spot on skin made of clustered pigment cells
a cosmetic product that temporarily makes skin appear tanned
Q4.When can UV rays cause skin damage in the UK?
Q5.Which of the following could be a sign of possible skin cancer?
Q6.Match the ABCDE guide with what to look out for when checking moles.
the two halves do not match
the edge is blurred or irregular
the mole has different shades
the mole is larger than 6mm
the mole is changing shape, size or colour
To help you plan your 10 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Safety in the sun, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Safety in the sun, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 RSHE (PSHE) lessons from the Staying safe and healthy: How can I check my body is healthy? unit, dive into the full secondary RSHE (PSHE) curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.