Sun Safe Celebration

Overview

In this 60-minute lesson for Years 0-3 at Norsewood and Districts School, students will explore sun safety in a creative music-integrated context as part of the "Pōhutukawa Christmas Celebration" unit. The lesson supports taha tinana (physical well-being) within Te Whare Tapa Whā, helping students understand why sun safety is essential while promoting the school's GREAT values: Give it a go, Respect, Excellence, Attitude, and Teamwork.

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Learning Objectives

Aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh and school values:

• Health and Physical Education (Level 1)

  • Understand sun safety practices and the harmful effects of UV radiation.
  • Recognise the importance of wearing hats, sunscreen, and protective clothing for physical well-being (taha tinana).
  • Develop awareness of hauora by connecting sun safety to overall health via Te Whare Tapa Whā.

• The Arts - Music (Level 1)

  • Participate actively in music activities that enrich engagement and expression.
  • Use sound and rhythm to communicate ideas related to the theme of sun safety.

• Key Competencies

  • Managing Self: Taking responsibility for sun safety actions.
  • Relating to Others: Collaborate respectfully when creating a sun safety poster.
  • Participating and Contributing: Share ideas and express understanding through music and artwork.

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Materials

• Large poster paper or A3 sheets
• Markers, crayons, glue, scissors
• Pictures of sun safety gear (hats, sunscreen, protective clothing)
• Music instruments or body percussion resources
• Printable or hand-drawn Te Whare Tapa Whā symbol
• Visuals about UV rays (simple child-friendly diagrams)

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Lesson Plan Breakdown

1. Warm-up & Introduction (10 minutes)

• Engage students with a welcoming waiata (song) about summer and the sun (could be a simple chant or rhythm with clapping).
• Introduce the topic: Explain briefly it’s a sunny time of year and that the sun, while nice to feel, can hurt our skin with UV rays.
• Show friendly images of hats, sunscreen, and clothing as helpers to keep safe.
• Connect to Te Whare Tapa Whā by showing the symbol and naming taha tinana (physical health), explaining that sun safety keeps our bodies well.

2. Interactive Listening & Movement Activity (15 minutes)

• Use rhythm instruments or body percussion to create a “Sun Safe Beat.”
• Students copy rhythmic patterns that represent putting on sunscreen (slow, spreading movements), wearing hats (tapping head), and putting on clothes (swaying arms).
• Discuss these movements as actions that protect us. Use call-and-response with musical beats integrating words like “hat,” “sunscreen,” “shade”—helping with vocabulary and listening skills.

3. Collaborative Sun Safety Poster Creation (20 minutes)

• Divide students into small groups (4-5 per group). Provide large paper and art materials.
• Each group draws or pastes pictures of sun safety items and adds simple words or phrases about why they are important.
• Incorporate the Te Whare Tapa Whā symbol on the poster, particularly highlighting taha tinana, and explain briefly to children as they work (“We’re showing how we can keep our bodies safe and strong”).
• Encourage use of the GREAT values: working as a team, respecting each other’s ideas, and giving it a go.

4. Sharing & Discussion (10 minutes)

• Each group presents their poster briefly to the class, using simple sentences or words they learned (e.g., “We wear hats to keep safe from the sun.”).
• Reinforce the connection to well-being and respect for our bodies.

5. Closing Reflection and Song (5 minutes)

• Sing the sun safety waiata together again, reinforcing the actions.
• Quick reflection question: “What can YOU do to be sun safe this summer?” Encourage answers linking to hat, sunscreen, shade.
• Affirm students for their creativity and participation, highlighting the GREAT values and how they made a difference by learning.

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Assessment and Reflection

• Observe students’ participation in music and movement activities—do they follow instructions and engage with the sun safety actions?
• Evaluate posters for understanding of sun safety concepts — looking for inclusion of hats, sunscreen, clothing, and a mention or drawing of physical well-being (taha tinana).
• Listen to students’ explanations during sharing for grasp of key vocabulary and their connection to health.
• Informal check-in questions to ensure comprehension, adjusted to diverse abilities.

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Curriculum Links

• Health and Physical Education Achievement Objectives (Level 1):

  • Personal Growth and Development: Describe and explain ways to keep safe and healthy, including sun safety (HPE Level 1).
  • Hauora conceptual framework is part of Health curriculum, supporting understanding of wellbeing through taha tinana and other dimensions (Te Whare Tapa Whā) .

• The Arts - Music Achievement Objectives (Level 1):

  • Participate in and contribute to music experiences with others to express ideas and feelings .

• Key Competencies: Managing self, Relating to others, Participating and contributing appear throughout NZC as essential for holistic student development .

• Norsewood and Districts School GREAT values integrated throughout, to empower students to Give it a go, Respect, show Excellence, have a positive Attitude and work as a Team.

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Extension Ideas

• Use digital tools to create a simple sun safety song video (recording students singing and demonstrating actions).
• Invite local health practitioners or community members to talk about sun safety.
• Connect learning with Science by exploring shadows and sunlight during different times of the day.

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This engaging, culturally responsive, and multi-modal lesson facilitates a foundational understanding of sun safety tied to wellbeing, culture, and music for young learners, supporting the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum and school values at Norsewood and Districts School.

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If you would like, I can help prepare the lyrics for the sun safety waiata or provide visual templates for the posters!