Know your sun cream

Using the downloadable worksheet 'Know your sun cream':

a) Show the class a bottle of sun cream. Discuss why sun cream is important and how it works.

Substances in sun cream absorb or reflect UV rays (ultra violet radiation) that are harmful to humans.

b) Talk through the information on the bottle, listing the following abbreviations/information on the board:

UVA, UVB, SPF, Star Rating

• UV rays cannot be seen, but they can damage the skin and lead to sunburn, wrinkles, rashes and more serious conditions in later life, including skin cancer. UVA and UVB are the two types of UV rays that affect humans the most.
• SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor: the higher the SPF number, the more protection the sun cream gives you. Children should use sun cream with an SPF of 30 or higher.
• The Star Rating refers to the product’s protection from UVA. The Star Rating goes from 1 to 5 and it is recommended that children use sun cream with five stars, as this gives the best protection.
   

c) Pupils should now fill in the 'Know your sun cream' worksheet.