Protecting our eyes from the Sun: do and review
I can carry out and review an investigation about Sun protection.
Protecting our eyes from the Sun: do and review
I can carry out and review an investigation about Sun protection.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Sun is always giving out light, but there are higher levels of ultraviolet light in the summer.
- The UV index tells us how strong the Sun's damaging ultraviolet rays are.
- Ultraviolet-sensitive beads change colour when exposed to UV light from the Sun.
- Careful observations should be made when comparing UV beads before and after they have been exposed to the Sun.
- Scientists often review a completed enquiry and write a conclusion.
Keywords
Sun - The Sun is a star and the centre of our solar system.
Ultraviolet (UV) - Ultraviolet is a type of light produced by the Sun that human eyes cannot see. It can harm a human's skin.
Exposed - To put or leave something in an unprotected place.
Review - When scientists review, they look again at what they have done and consider if it could be improved.
Conclusion - In a conclusion, scientists explain what the results show or mean.
Common misconception
It is safe to look at the Sun on a cloudy day or when wearing sunglasses. Only lighter skin tones require protection from UV light.
Reminders that pupils should never look at the Sun. All skin tones require protection from UV light.
To help you plan your year 3 science lesson on: Protecting our eyes from the Sun: do and review, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 3 science lesson on: Protecting our eyes from the Sun: do and review, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the Introduction to light and shadows unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Pairs of different sunglasses, UV beads, sun creams with different SPFs (optional).
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions








Exit quiz
6 Questions





