Excessive exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes sunburn and has been consistently associated
with increased susceptibility to melanoma and skin ageing. Acknowledging the need to promote healthy
sun exposure habits, numerous educational initiatives have been developed to raise public awareness
towards this issue. However, studies reveal that misinformed behaviours persist, particularly amongst
young people, emphasising the need to broaden the range of interventions specifically targeting this population
segment. The goal of this study was to develop and assess a hands-on activity addressing the lethal
effect of sunlight. Using a mixed-method approach based on a case-control pre-/post-test design, the effectiveness
of this activity was evaluated following its implementation in four high schools in Portugal. Data
collected through questionnaires, classroom observations, analysis of activity reports and interviews with
140 12th-grade science students aged 17.10 ± 0.67 years old attending biology classes reveal that the activity
had a positive impact on student knowledge about the effects of solar UV radiation and the importance
of safe sunlight exposure. The implications of these findings for health and biology education–namely,
concerning the instructional design of practical activities in this scope–are discussed.

• A Hands-on Activity to Raise Awareness about Healthy Sun Exposure

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