Sun and Clouds
Preventing Skin Cancer

Menu The sun in History (R) sunscreen Labels (I) UV Light and sunscreen (R) UV and Your Skin: An Interactive Simulation (I) Percent sunshine (P) T = Timeline R = Reading B = Biography L = Laboratory   C = Class activity P = Paper activity M = Mathematics I = Interactive web activity

Life on earth depends on the sun. Energy radiated through space to earth sustains life. But, as so often happens in the natural world, benefits come with costs. Some of the sun's energy has the ability to alter cellular life in negative as well as positive ways. It's the ultraviolet portion of the sun's energy that affects human skin.

As in the other sections of the module focused on pevention, this section provides students with information that enables them to make intelligent decisions about their health. The lab activity UV Light and sunscreen compares the effectiveness of types of sunscreens. The interactive simulation UV and Your Skin: An Interactive Simulation provides information on how ultraviolet rays interact with clouds, sunscreen, and skin. Percent sunshine is a math-based activity. sunscreen Labels is based on a hypothetical label, and tells students what to look for in a sunscreen.