January 27, 2025
SunAWARE™
Empowering Kids to Be Sun Safe, Every Day with SunAWARE!
Curriculum Overview
The SunAWARE™ curriculum is an engaging program that equips students from kindergarten through fifth grade with the knowledge and behaviors necessary for lifelong sun safety. The curriculum follows National Health Education Standards (NHES) by building a strong foundation in sun safety at every grade level while adding new skills that match students’ developmental stages.
In the early grades, teacher-guided instruction and group-based formative assessments help foster a supportive classroom environment. As children progress to older grades, student-led exploration and assessments promote independence and strengthen sun-safe habits. From kindergarten through fifth grade, students build both sun safety awareness and the confidence to apply it, becoming truly SunAWARE™.
To explore examples of how different NHES are addressed, please check out the “Key Components by Grade Level” page. For a full list of standards, visit National Health Education Standards (NHES).
Kindergarten
Kindergarteners build lifelong sun safe habits by exploring sunburn risks, learning how humans and animals protect themselves, and practicing asking trusted adults for help with sun protection.
1st Grade
First graders strengthen sun safety habits by recognizing daily sun exposure risks, practicing protection, and modeling healthy behaviors themselves to reinforce their role as leaders in sun protection.
2nd Grade
Second graders explore how seasons affect sun exposure, practice sun-safe habits for all skin types, and build confidence in advocating for sun protection in their communities.
3rd Grade
Third graders learn the science of sun safety, including the layers of human skin, UV rays, SPF, and the earth’s orbit around the sun, while practicing protective habits and sharing knowledge with others.
4th Grade
Fourth graders learn about UV ray strength, the UV index, tanning risks, and SPF, while practicing informed sun safe decision making.
5th Grade
Fifth graders advance their skills by studying UV damage, learning about skin cancer and melanoma signs, while critically examining media messages and committing to lifelong sun safe habits.
Request Access to SunAWARE™
We are so excited about your interest in SunAWARE, a free educational tool developed by the Melanoma Research Foundation. Before accessing the SunAWARE K-5 eLearning, please fill out the short form at the bottom of the main SunAWARE page, and let us know how you plan to use SunAWARE.