Stay safe in the sun
Includes:
Indoors, Outdoors, Health and well-being, Technology and science
Activity time:
30 mins
30 mins
Age:
10+
Cost:
Low
Know your suncream
Learn about SPF and the different types girls need to stay in the sun.
Overview
- Inside or under some shade, line up the suncream bottles and cut a piece of photo-sensitive paper into four A6-sized pieces. Place each one inside a zip-lock bag and seal it. Pin each bag to a stiff piece of cardboard and write on it which SPF will be used. The fourth will be a control.
- Smear the correct suncream onto the outside of each bag. Leave the control without any suncream.
- Set the paper out in the sun. Wait for five minutes.
- Bring the paper inside and submerge it in the tub of water to stop the process and fix the images.
- The more blue the paper, the more UV rays came through. The whiter the paper, the more UV rays were blocked by the suncream.
Planning checklist
Safety notes
Activity around health and wellbeing can sometimes encourage disclosures from girls about their own experiences. Make sure you can support girls fully by reading our guidance on managing concerns, and see our list of support organisations for further guidance.
Using the web? Follow our online safety guidelines to ensure girls in your unit can surf safely.
| Section | Number of girls per adult |
|---|---|
| Rainbows | 5 |
| Brownies | 8 |
| Guides | 12 |
How many adults are needed?
Use this calculator to find out the ratio of girls to adults that is required for this activity