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Program Summary
SunWise is in all 50 states, Washington, DC and the territories.
The SunWise School Program is an environmental and
health education program that aims to teach children and their caregivers
how to protect themselves from overexposure to the sun. Through
the use of classroom-, school-, and community-based components,
SunWise seeks to develop sustained sun-safe behaviors in schoolchildren.
SunWise Partner Schools receive materials that facilitate cross-curricular
classroom learning. The program also encourages schools to provide
a sun-safe infrastructure, including shade structures (e.g., canopies,
trees) and policies (e.g., using hats, sunscreen, sunglasses)
that promote sun protection in a school setting. Though based
in schools, SunWise also supports community partnerships, such
as inviting guest speakers to school assemblies, to enhance sun
safety efforts.
Recognizing the many issues schools are asked to address daily,
SunWise was developed with the needs of schools and educators
in mind. The program was designed to provide maximum flexibility
elements and can be used as stand-alone teaching tools or to complement
existing school curricula. The time commitment necessary to implement
SunWise is minimal, while the potential payoff in lower skin cancer
rates - and other health benefits in the future - is high.
The SunWise School Program was pilot tested in 130 schools in
38 states during the 1999-2000 school year. National implementation
began in the 2000-2001 school year. The components of the SunWise
Program outlined below are available to Partner Schools free of
charge.
SunWise School Program Activities
Classroom
- Cross-Curricular Classroom Lessons
- Internet Learning, including UV Measurement and Reporting
- SunWise Student Survey
- SunWise Teacher Survey
School
- Suggestions for Infrastructure Enhancements (e.g., sun-safe
policies and structures)
- Ideas for School-Based Sun Safety Activities (e.g., school
assemblies)
- Evaluation of SunWise School Program
Community
- Suggestions for Community Partnerships (e.g., guest speakers
and business partnerships)
- Service Learning Components for Students
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