According
to the Canadian Cancer Society (2001), 1 in 7children born today will develop
skin cancer during their lifetime, with almost all cases attributed to sun
damage.
In fact, a significant part of their lifetime
exposure to the sun will occur before a child reaches the age of 18 (Canadian
Cancer Society, 2005), and one severe sunburn during childhood can double the
risk of developing skin cancer later in life (Canadian Dermatology Association –
Sun Facts).
Protecting children from the harmful effects of the sun can
greatly
reduce their lifetime risk of developing skin cancer.
In
addition to sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and protective clothing, seeking
and providing shade are essential components of a comprehensive approach to
sun safety.
Schools can promote sun safety and the use of shade by:
Integrating sun safety education into the curriculum
Initiating a project to add shade to your school yard. Involve your school
and/or parent council in tree planting programs and other shade creating
opportunities
Plant Trees to Reduce Heat!
The nature of school grounds, large areas of
cement and asphalt, causes them to become "Heat Islands" in their
communities during warmer seasons.
Planting trees on school grounds not only
provides cooling shade for staff and students, but also helps to reduce the
ambient air temperature in the school and the neighbourhood, improving
comfort and reducing the overall energy demands for cooling in the
community.
To plan for shade it is essential to
follow several planning steps. The benefits of following a shade planning
process include:
Addressing the unique environment of each individual school
Building a sense of community within the school
Establishing links to the curriculum
Providing enhanced learning opportunities for teachers and students
Conduct
a shade audit to identify existing shade areas and determine where additional
shade is needed
The Sunsense Coalition offers
support, resources and curriculum material to assist schools to plan for shade.
Resources to plan for shade include:
Shade:
A Planning Guide by the York Region Sunsense Coaliton
Designing for Shade and Energy Conservation-School Ground Greening Guide
Module of York University’s Ecoschool Program
Sun safety Curriculum Resources:
Living
with Sunshine for grades 1, 2 and 3 by the Canadian Cancer Society
UV
Radiation: Science, Sun Protection and the Classroom for grades 1 to 8 by the
Ontario Sun Safety Working Group
Sun
Savvy Club by Environment Canada
Promote
your school as a sun safe school-let your school be a role model to promote sun
safety and the use of shade.
Health Resources for Teachers
Skin Cancer Prevention
Sunsense Program
The
Sunsense Program provides resources including curriculum matched materials to
promote skin cancer prevention for school aged children.
In collaboration with the York Region SunSense Coalition, we annually host a Sun
Smart Poster Contest for grade 1 students and their families. The contest winner
is provided with a tree that is planted on their school ground to promote the
use of shade.
We also provide resources and consultation to develop sun safe school policies
and to plan for shade in schools.
These resources and services are available from York Region Health Services or
directly from the source listed. A listing here does not necessarily constitute
a full endorsement of the resources and /or their contents.
MANUALS AND CURRICULUM RESOURCES
For Elementary
School Students and Teachers:
Living with Sunshine (grades 1-3), Canadian Cancer Society
Description: A primary teaching resource on sun protection for grades 1, 2 and
3. By learning how to protect their skin from overexposure to the sun, students
will not only be preventing sunburns, but also lowering their risk of developing
skin cancer. The lessons include a variety of activities to allow flexibility
needed to meet your classroom’s grade level and the instructional time
available. This teaching resource intentionally avoids discussion of skin
cancer, focusing instead on healthy lifestyle choices.
Obtain resource from: York Region Sunsense Program, York Region Health
Connection at 1-800-361-5653
UV Radiation: Science, Sun Protection and the Classroom (grades 1-8),
Ontario Sun Safety Working Group
Description: Relating academic science to issues
and concerns in the world is one of the key aims of this resource. The study of
ultraviolet radiation and sun protection is a natural fit for bringing
scientific inquiry into real life experiences outside the classroom.
The
purpose of this resource is to demonstrate ways in which ultraviolet radiation
and sun protection can be integrated into the Ontario Curriculum:
To provide an understanding of the basic scientific concepts about human skin
and eyes, and UV
To raise awareness about the effects of short and long term exposure to UV
radiation and its link to photoaging, eye damage and skin cancer
To act as a catalyst to stimulate the process of scientific inquiry concerning
human skin and eyes, UV radiation and various methods of sun protection
To act as a catalyst for students to explore how much scientific fact
influences individual sun behaviours
To raise awareness that the damaging effects of overexposure to UV radiation
are preventable
To reinforce the Canadian Sun Safety Recommendations to encourage the school
population to make informed choices and take actions to reduce their exposure
and related health risks associated with UV radiation
Can obtain resource from: York Region Sunsense Program, York Region Health
Connection at 1-800-361-5653
Sun Savvy Club, Environment Canada
Description: The objective of this club is to encourage students to practice sun
safety and sun protection by making observations of ultraviolet radiation levels
in their schoolyards and sharing that information with other schools and their
communities by posting findings on the Environment website. In registering for
this club, schools are asked to participate in at least 3 of these activities:
teach students about sun safety and sun protection; adopt a sun savvy school
policy; take UV Index measurements with the UV ray meter and enter the data into
our database on the internet; hold a school-wide sun safety event or assembly;
reach out to their community by sending pamphlets on sun safety to parents or by
hosting a community sun safety event. Schools that register for the Sun Savvy
Club will be able to borrow a UV Index ray meter from Environment Canada for the
duration of their participation in the program.
Can obtain resource from: Environment Canada,
http://www.msc-smc.ec.gc.ca/education/uvindex/resources/index_e.html
Video – Sun Safe Play Everyday, Canadian Dermatology Association
Description: A 7 minute cartoon video that shows a little boy and his dog
demonstrating sun safe behaviours while having fun outside, through song. The
video is interactive and asks the audience to sing along.
Can obtain resource from: York Region Sunsense Program, York Region Health
Connection at 1-800-361-5653
Storybook – Block the Sun Not the Fun, Canadian Pediatric Society
Description: A rhyming book that discusses UVA and UVB and actions to take to be
protected against them
Can obtain resource from: York Region Sunsense Program, York Region Health
Connection at 1-800-361-5653
For Secondary School
Students and
Teachers:
Solar
UV in our World - Secondary Education Information and Investigations Description: A resource for teachers of secondary school students that provides
information and activities about how ultraviolet radiation (UV) affects the
weather, how to change the impact of UV radiation, how UV radiation affects us
and what we can do. This resource includes various activities for students and
websites for additional information.
Obtain resource from: Environment Canada,
http://www.msc-smc.ec.gc.ca/education/uvindex/resources/index_e.html
For School Administrators, Teachers
and Parents:
Resources to plan for shade include:
Shade: A Planning Guide, York Region Sunsense Coalition
Description: A booklet designed to promote the use of shade for sun protection
among individuals and organizations. This planning guide outlines the importance
of shade, where shade is essential, how to plan for shade, the different types
of shade and how to best utilize and create shaded areas.
Can obtain resource from: York Region Sunsense Program, York Region Health
Connection at 1-800-361-5653
Designing for Shade and Energy Conservation – School Grounds Greening Guide
Module of York University’s Eco School Program
Description: Built on previous greening programs, EcoSchools is distinguished by
its dual focus on school operations and curriculum. It means that classroom
learning is matched by environmental concepts being applied in running the
school. In the EcoSchools resources, environmental learning expectations in the
Ontario curriculum have been given new prominence in activities and tasks
designed to connect classroom experience with practical issues in students’
lives.
Can obtain resource from: Free copies of all Ontario EcoSchools guides may be
downloaded in PDF format from York University’s Faculty of Environmental Studies
website at www.yorku.ca/fes/envedu/ecoschools.asp
Shade for Kids Workshop-in-a-box, Evergreen Canada
Description: Want to create more shade on your school ground, but don’t know
where to begin? This resource provides you with everything you need to deliver a
workshop that addresses all the elements of designing for shade.
Can obtain resource from: www.evergreen.ca/en/lg/lg-shadefor kids.htlm
For Secondary School
Students and
Teachers: