LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Identify a range of health benefits and dangers associated with sun exposure; distinguish facts from myths about sun exposure; describe a variety of ways to protect yourself from the sun.

HEALTH ED STANDARDS

NHES 1: Comprehend concepts to promote health and disease prevention.

 

CASEL: Responsible decision-making

KEY VOCAB

hydrated

vital organs

electrolytes

Lesson Plan: Your Body on…Sunlight

Soak up the benefits of the sun without getting burned.

Table of Contents:

1. Preparing to Read

2. Reading and Discussing

3. Building Comprehension and Vocabulary

4. Expanding SEL Opportunities

1. Preparing to Read

Before you read the article “Your Body On . . . Sunlight,” ask your students the following pre-reading question:

How can sun exposure affect your mind, body, and mood?

2. Reading and Discussing

  • Have your students read the article “Your Body On... Sunlight” independently; read the article out loud to them; or have students  partner-read the article out loud.
  • After they’ve read the article, revisit the pre-reading question. Have their answers changed?
  • Next, have your students answer the Close-Reading and Critical-Thinking questions, either working in small groups or independently.


Close-Reading Questions
The following questions can be shared in printable or interactive form from the Resources tab. 

  1. How can can the sun improve your mood?
  2. What is heatstroke, and why is it dangerous?


Critical-Thinking Questions

  1. Think back to the last time you spent a day in the sun. What were you doing, and how did you feel afterward?
  2. Why do you think people might sometimes feel down during months when there is not a lot of sunlight?

3. Building Comprehension and Vocab

Check students’ comprehension of and engagement with the story with the following assessment tools:

  • Quiz

  • Vocab Builder

4. Expanding SEL Opportunities

Continue the learning journey with the following extension activity:

Are your students looking forward to FUN IN THE SUN yet? In this activity, pairs or individual students will use their Notes app or another planning tool they like to prepare for an upcoming day in the sun. First, they should describe what they plan to do. Then, have them list what they would need to bring to get all the health benefits of the sun while staying protected from it.

Print This Lesson Plan

Text-to-Speech