Home›Lesson Plans›PE & Health›Personal Safety · Grade 6

Sun Safety

Sixth graders learn how to stay safe during outdoor activity, from sunscreen and shade to hats and hydration, and why protecting their skin and body from the sun matters.

Grade 6Sun Safety45 minutes1 class periodSHAPEExplicit teaching4 StandardsSHAPE
Start the Lesson
Assign or share this lesson
Share to Google Classroom Share to Microsoft Teams

Copy link works with Canvas, Schoology, Moodle and any other LMS — paste it in as a resource or assignment.

Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain UV rays.
  • ✓Use sun protection.
  • ✓Prevent overheating.
  • ✓Make safe choices.
Essential Question

Time outdoors is good for you, but the sun has to be respected. How can you stay active outside while protecting your skin and body?

0
Lesson Phases
0
Vocabulary Terms
0
Standards Aligned
0
Interactive Task
Check It · Interactive

Sun Safety Check

Project this and answer each question about staying safe in the sun during outdoor activity — read the explanation after each one.

☀️ Check what you know about staying safe in the sunTry it
Answer each question about protecting yourself during outdoor activity.
The Lesson · Health & PE Flow (Warm-Up · Learn · Practice · Apply · Cool-Down)

45 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Too Much Sun

5 min

A whole afternoon of outdoor play sounds great, until the sunburn. How can you enjoy the sun without getting hurt by it?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Ask about a sunburn.
  • List protections.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Sun Safety Check

12 min

Students answer questions about sun safety.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the Sun Safety Check.
  • Answer each question.
  • Read the why.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Check.
  • Read it.
3

Modify — Plan the Day

13 min

Students plan protection for an outdoor day.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick an outdoor activity.
  • List what to bring.
  • Note when to take breaks.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick.
  • List.
  • Note.
4

Create — Sun-Smart Poster

15 min

Students make a quick reference.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • List the top sun-safety tips.
  • Add when to use each.
  • Make a poster or card.

🎒 Student Actions

  • List.
  • Add.
  • Make.
5

Reflect — Enjoy It Safely

5 min

Students reflect on sun safety.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Why protect your skin from UV?
  • What is one way to cool down?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the SHAPE America National Standards for Health Education and Physical Education.

SHAPE
HE.1

Explain how UV rays affect the skin and body.

SHAPE
HE.7

Practice sun-safety habits during outdoor activity.

SHAPE
HE.5

Make safe decisions about sun and heat exposure.

SHAPE
PE.4

Apply safety rules during outdoor physical activity.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Sun-safety picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “To stay safe I will ___ .”
  • Answer one question at a time.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with sunscreen and shade.
  • Act out a sun-safe routine.
  • Review one tip at a time.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Research UV index and SPF levels.
  • Plan protection for a sports event.
  • Teach a younger class the tips.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🧴Sunscreen sample
  • 💻Sun Safety Check
  • 🎩Hat and sunglasses
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

UV raysinvisible rays from the sun that can burn skinsunscreena lotion or spray that blocks UV raysSPFa number showing how much a sunscreen protectsshadea shaded spot out of direct sunlighthydrationgiving your body the water it needssunburnred, sore skin caused by too much UVoverheatingthe body getting dangerously hotheat exhaustionfeeling dizzy and ill from too much heat
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Why should you protect your skin from the sun?
Because UV rays can burn and damage skin, and protection lowers the risk of sunburn and long-term harm.
QUESTION 2
Name two ways to stay sun-safe outdoors.
For example, wear sunscreen and a hat, stay in the shade at midday, and drink plenty of water.
QUESTION 3
What should you do if you start to feel overheated?
Move to shade, rest, and drink water so your body can cool down safely.

Create: a sun-smart poster.

Have students list the top sun-safety tips, note when to use each one, and turn them into a quick-reference poster or card for outdoor days. A printable sun-safety worksheet is in the PE & Health library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Sun SafetyFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
0

Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Sun SafetyQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Sun SafetyPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: heat exhaustion, hydration, overheating, shade, SPF, sunburn, sunscreen, UV rays
  1. a shaded spot out of direct sunlight
  2. giving your body the water it needs
  3. the body getting dangerously hot
  4. feeling dizzy and ill from too much heat
  5. a number showing how much a sunscreen protects
  6. red, sore skin caused by too much UV
  7. invisible rays from the sun that can burn skin
  8. a lotion or spray that blocks UV rays

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Why should you protect your skin from the sun?
  2. Name two ways to stay sun-safe outdoors.
  3. What should you do if you start to feel overheated?
Answer key — Part A: 1) shade · 2) hydration · 3) overheating · 4) heat exhaustion · 5) SPF · 6) sunburn · 7) UV rays · 8) sunscreen
Part B: 1) Because UV rays can burn and damage skin, and protection lowers the risk of sunburn and long-term harm. 2) For example, wear sunscreen and a hat, stay in the shade at midday, and drink plenty of water. 3) Move to shade, rest, and drink water so your body can cool down safely.