Resources and Ideas for SUNLIGHT Group

Guiding questions:
What are the risks of getting too much sunlight? How can you protect your skin from too much sunlight? What are the health benefits of sunlight? Why is vitamin D (which we get from the sun) important? What does Jesus tell us is our responsibility to the world?

As you research your subject, make sure to find answers to each of the guiding questions. Find a creative way to teach what you have learned to your fellow classmates so they will be able to answer each of the guiding questions also. Create an engaging and hands-on activity to teach 4-10 year old children about sunlight so they will learn to live healthier lives.

Links/resources to explore: What are the risks of getting too much sunlight? http://www.webmd.com/beauty/sun/sun-exposure-skin-cancer (This information is a bit more for the ladies, but it is from a reputable medical site so it can be trusted.) http://my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_living/skin_care/hic_protecting_yourself_from_s un_damage.aspx (You will find answers to other questions below on this medical site, such as how to protect yourself from too much sun, and what some of the benefits of sun exposure are.) How can you protect yourself from getting too much sun? http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/kids/index.html (Games! This site has games and activities to teach you about the importance of protecting yourself from the harmful effects of the sun. Check the links on the top right.)

What are the health benefits of sunlight? http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/9772.php (Look for the references in this article. What do they tell you about how accurate the information contained in this link is?)

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/vitamin-D (This reputable site lists a few facts at the top and then includes more detailed information below. See if you can read the whole page for greater understanding of the connection between vitamin D and a decreased risk of some diseases.)

Why is vitamin D (which you get from the sun) important? http://www.livescience.com/36185-sun-exposure-good-health.html (This looks like a good article with accurate information. However, where are the sources? Who is the author and what are his/her credentials for writing this sort of scientific/medical information? How can you verify the facts contained in this article?) http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/11/19/us-type-idUSCOL96182020071119 (Who wouldnt want to reduce his/her risk of getting diabetes, just by some sun exposure? It could be possible. Check out this summary of some research.) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2290997/ (This is a scholarly article that will be over your heads, for the most part, but it has great information about some of the benefits of sunlight and vitamin D! What can you learn from it? How can you get good information out of something written for the medical community or for adults to read? What resources can you call on to help you?)

What does Jesus tell us is our responsibility to the world? John 3:16 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:16&version=MSG) Matthew 24: 40 (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/exercise/lookup) Matthew 5: 14-15(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:1415&version=MSG) Philippians 2: 1-4 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%202:14&version=MSG) Acts 20: 35 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2020:35&version=MSG) Galatians 5: 13-14 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galations%205:1314&version=MSG) Mark 10: 44-45 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2010:45&version=ERV) More helpful sites: http://www.sunsafetyforkids.org/sunprotection/vitamin_D/ This is a great site written for kids! It contains good information you will find helpful as you learn about the importance of sunlight for children. Check to see if the information is referenced in any sources. (HINT: look at the very BOTTOM of the page!)

http://simplegreenorganichappy.com/2012/05/10-healthbenefits-of-sunshine-get-outside/ This site has a lot of facts, but do you see any reference to where they found their facts? Also, look for the word evolved in this article. It shows up at least twice. What do the authors believe about how humans were made? Why do you as a Christian disagree? http://www.enjoying-the-spirit-filled-life.com/Sun-Exposure.html There are a good deal of statistics in this web site, and also some sources list ed at the end. The problem is, how can you tell which statistics were found in the sources, and which ones werent? There isnt any way to know! How can you find reliable information, for instance, on the percentage of various age groups who are vitamin D deficient, as noted in the last part of the web page? Journal/blog last 5 minutes: Journal prompt: Each day you research in your chosen area of health, write something about what you learned! What new piece(s) of information seemed most interesting to you? How can you use this information for yourself? How can you use it to serve others?