The UV Index Sun Awareness Program is aimed at Canadian elementary and high school teachers to teach students how to use the UV index as a tool to better protect themselves from the harmful UV rays from the sun.

In this section, you will find more information about the program, what you can do as a teacher, and what resources are available to you.  You can also register your school to the program and compare your observations of the UV Index with other schools across Canada.

About the Program

In 1998, Health Canada and Environment Canada started the Children's UV Index Sun Awareness Program. The program teaches students under the age of 18 about the UV Index and how to use it to minimize the risk to their health from solar ultraviolet radiation.

The Children's UV Index Sun Awareness Program is now under the management of Health Canada. However, it still maintains close ties to Environment Canada, who will continue to provide valuable expertise with the UV Index and Sun Protection Web site.

For further information on the UV Index Sun Awareness Program, please contact the Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau.

What Teachers Can Do

• If you haven't already, register your school to the program.
• Take a look at our resources so you can teach your students about the UV Index and sun safety
• Adopt a sun savvy school policy and promote sun awareness in your school.
• Hold a school-wide sun safety event or assembly.
• Take UV Index measurements with the UV Index meter and enter them into Environment Canada's database.

Resources

There are now many components to the program. Teachers are encouraged to take advantage of one or all of the components:

• The UV Index, the Sun and You 2006 poster provides students with information on the UV Index and precautions they can take to protect themselves from excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
  • The UV Index, the Sun and You poster - Elementary School
  • The UV Index, the Sun and You poster - High School
• The UV Index Sun Awareness Program 2006 pamphlet describes the program in more detail and explains the importance of getting these messages across.
  • UV Index Sun Awareness Program pamphlet - Elementary School
  • UV Index Sun Awareness Program pamphlet - High School
• The 2006 Information and Activity Guide outlines activities teachers can follow to teach students about UVR, its impact on human health and how UVR is linked to climate change.
  • Sun Savvy School Club - Elementary School
  • The UV Index, the Sun and You - High School
• UV Index Meter

To receive your Information and Activity Guide and UV Index Meter, register your school now!

You can also consult our resources from previous years on the Environment Canada UV Index and Sun Protection Web site.

Register Your School

Should you decide to register your school to the program, Health Canada will provide you with both a newly revised Information and Activity Guide for 2006 and a UV Index Meter. This booklet outlines activities teachers can follow to teach students about UVR, its impact on human health and the environment and how UVR is linked to climate change.

Registration Form

To register your school, complete the following form. The personal information you provide is collected to allow Health Canada to send you an Information and Activity Guide and UV Index meter by mail. This personal information is protected under the Federal Privacy Act. Accordingly, it will be used, retained and disclosed for the purpose mentioned above and will be kept for a period of one year. Learn more about our commitment to privacy.

Should you prefer not to register your school through this online form, please contact the Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau directly.

Please note that the UV Index Sun Protection Program is targeted at Canadian schools.