During this Unit, students will conduct several investigations focused on keeping the skin safe from the Sun’s harmful UV light. By conducting experiments and investigating different variables, students will begin to draw conclusions concerning the relationship between sun exposure and skin damage.
Students will discover the function of the skin and observe the effects of short term and long- term sun exposure on the different dermal layers. Students will also examine normal and abnormal moles and determine their role as early warning signs of skin cancer. As students perform experiments, they will better understand how to effectively minimize their skin’s exposure to the Sun, including the proper use of sunscreens that contain SPF. Students will then have the opportunity to apply their knowledge from this Unit, by developing Sun Protection Plans which will recommend the proper care and protection of skin that has been exposed to the Sun.
As they perform these investigations, students will begin to identify the importance of keeping their skin safe and healthy. This Unit will challenge students to apply these ideas to their daily lives, building continuity between classroom investigations and daily applications.
Conceptual Themes addressed in this Unit:
- Changes and Reactions
- Systems