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You can do some great hands on experiments with UV Detecting Beads from
Education Innovations. We do Rays Awareness, a program where visitors
make and take UV bead bracelets that they can experiment with at home
(inside, outside, different car windows, etc.) and at the beach (sun,
shade, underwater, behind sunglasses, etc.). During the actual program
we have different SPF sunscreens spread on clear CD cases. Visitors use
the beads or a UV Meter can be used to determine effectiveness.

I just did this program on a very cloudy day and it was very dramatic
since color changes still happened (qualitative) and the visitors were
surprised.  The beads were slower to change, but this allowed for more
experimentation and finer distinctions.  A UV Meter gives quantitative
readings. 

Here are links for Educational Innovations. They also have resources
online.
The Weather Channel also developed Sun Safety educational resources
several years ago. 
See link below.

http://www.teachersource.com/LightAndColor/Ultraviolet/UltravioletDetect
ingBeads.aspx
http://www.teachersource.com/LightAndColor/Ultraviolet/UVOutsideDetector
.aspx
http://www.teachersource.com/LightAndColor/Ultraviolet/UVAtmosphericLigh
tMeter.aspx

http://www.weather.com/learn/raysawareness/
There also is a recent study you might find of interest: Kids Given
Photos of Sunburn Damage Covered Up Better
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83290.html

Denise

Denise LeBlanc
Director of Science Education & Community Partnerships
The Discovery Museums
177 Main Street
Acton, MA  01720
www.discoverymuseums.org

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