Download Script - Canadian Skin Cancer Foundation

Grades 5 & 6 PowerPoint Speaker Notes:
Directions are in italics. The PowerPoint will help with the presentation, but this
presentation should be more informal. Children of this age aren’t used to being
“lectured” to.
First talk to the teacher and tell him/her that you will be showing slightly graphic
pictures, and that you would like to divide the class into groups. Discuss the best
way to divide up the class.
Slide 1: Introduction: Who are you, what you do and why you’re there… (don’t
forget to SMILE!!)
Slide 2: Show the Video: Dear 16 Year Old Me (created by the David Cornfield
Melanoma Fund)
Slide 3: Start the Presentation: Objectives
Pose these questions to the class and see what their responses are. Tell them you
will answer these questions by the end of the presentation.
 What is skin cancer?
 Where does it come from?
 What can you do to prevent it?
Slide 4: Divide the classes into group of 5 or 6:
 Give the groups 5 minutes to get organized into their groups. Make sure they can
all see the board.
 Tell them they will need a pencil and paper.
 Get them to come up with a team name (ie. “The Suncreeners” – or something
along those lines!)
 Write the group names on the board (you are going to tally their score!) and tell
them the rules!
 Rules:
o Multiple Choice - Have a member from each group announce the answer(s)
they have decided on. Once all the groups have answered explain to the
students which answer(s) is/are correct and award points appropriately.
o Unscramble the word - Working as a team, have each group unscramble the
words on their sheet of paper. Have them raise their hand when they have the
word. The first team with their hand raised gets the point (there may be some
ties).
o True or False – Read one at a time. Allow the groups some time for
discussion, then ask all of the groups who chose “True” to put up their hands,
and those who chose “False” to put up their hands. Explain to the students
what the correct answer is and award points appropriately.
o The team with the most points wins! Give the winning group the prizes if you
have some
o If there are 2 or 3 groups with the same number of points, you may ask them a
few questions as “tie breakers”
Questions: PLEASE ASK THEM IN ORDER!
Slide 5: What causes skin cancer?
Remind the students that there is more than one answer!
Give them the following choices (use the PowerPoint presentation):
A. Sun - YES!!! - The sun’s rays are made up of UV radiation.
B. Watching too much TV
C. Freckles
D. Pizza Pops
E. UV radiation - YES!!! – UV radiation can cause DNA mutations in your skin’s
cells.
F. Brushing your teeth
G. Cell phones
H. DNA mutations - YES!!! – The skin’s cells get confused & don’t know how to
divide properly.
I. Potato Chips
J. Fruits and Vegetables (definitely not!)
Give the group ~5 min to answer the question, make sure they come to a consensus
as a group.
REPEAT all the right answers and explain WHY these are the right answers.
Slide 6-7: Skin Color & Melanin
Explain to the students that people have different skin colors because some people
produce more melanin that others.
 i.e.) people with darker skin tones produce more melanin than people with
lighter skin tones
Melanin is produced by your skin’s cells. It helps protect your skin by absorbing the
sun’s harmful UV rays.
 BUT tanned skin only provides a SPF of 2-4. This is NOT enough protection!
Students should wear a sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30 to help protect
their skin from burning.
Slide 8-9: Who Is At Risk?
Have the students list off the characteristics that put people at greater risk for
developing skin cancer and write them on the whiteboard.
Emphasize that people at greater risk for developing skin cancer are those who:
 Always burn, never tan, and are fair skinned with red or blonde hair, green or
blue eyes and freckles.
o Fair and freckled = high risk!
o Lighter skin tones means you have less melanin production which
means that your skin has less defense against the sun’s harmful UV
rays
o **Remember: melanin helps protect your skin by absorbing the sun’s
harmful UV rays
 Have a family history of skin cancer, had a really bad sunburn as a young
child, or have a lot of abnormal moles.
 Spend long periods of time in the sun (i.e. professional athletes and lifeguards)
 People who use artificial tanning beds
Slide 10-12: Sun Safety
But remember: ANYONE can get skin cancer. Everyone is at risk! (Even
vampires!!)
o Regardless of your skin color, eye/hair color or amount of time you
spend in the sun, sun safety techniques should always be used to help
minimize your risk!
We will be teaching you several sun safety tips that you can use to protect yourself
from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Slide 13: Which is the most dangerous form of skin cancer?
Give these options to the kids – it’s likely they won’t guess it, but it’s all part of
learning!
Answer: C. Melanoma
Explain that Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Melanoma are
all types of skin cancer. Please warn the students that the next pictures may be
graphic.
Slide 14-17: Basal Cell Carcinoma: Show pictures of Basal Cell Carcinoma
 Is the most common form of skin cancer and actually the MOST COMMON
FORM OF CANCER in the world.
 It is caused by exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays.
 Severe sunburns in childhood (i.e. TODAY!) can increase your risk of
developing skin cancer as you get older.
 It is commonly found on sun-exposed areas like the face and neck.
Slide 18-20: Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Show pictures of Squamous Cell
Carcinoma
 Is the second most common form of skin cancer.
 It is caused by sun exposure throughout your lifetime. This means you
don’t have to get a sunburn - just being in the sun throughout your life can
cause cancer!
 It is commonly found on areas of the skin that have been exposed to the sun
for long periods of time such as your:
o head, neck, arms & legs
Slide 21-22: Melanoma:
 Melanoma is the most dangerous & fastest growing form of skin cancer.
 When skin cells become damaged by the sun – they can multiply rapidly and
form tumors.
 This cancer usually presents itself as an abnormal mole, which can spread to
other parts of your body (i.e. metastasize)
o This is why it is SO important to learn how to spot a bad mole from a
normal mole
This is the lead in to the next question…
Slide 23: How can you spot a cancerous mole?
(Remind the students that there is more than one correct answer)
A. The color of the mole.
B. How much hair the mole has.
C. The border of the mole.
D. The diameter of the mole.
Answers: A, C and D
Slide 24-29: The ABCDE’s of Early Detection
Please go through these slides carefully! The ABCDE’s of detection are one of the
most important skin cancer prevention techniques.
Skin cancer can appear in places where the skin is rarely exposed to the sun, so it is
important to have someone help check places like the back and scalp.
Write the ABCDE acronym on the white board – beside each letter write the word its
stands for!
Asymmetry - Draw a line down the middle of the mole and compare the left to the
right.
Border - Explain the differences – i.e. the irregular border of the ‘bad mole’
Color - Explain the differences – i.e. the different colors present in the ‘bad mole’
Diameter – Explain the differences – i.e. the bad mole is larger than the head of a
pencil eraser (>6mm)
Evolving (or changing) – look for changes in your moles over time
Emphasize the importance of the ABCDE’s of detection: look at the asymmetry,
border, color, diameter of the mole and if it is evolving (or changing).
 Normal moles should be symmetrical with a smooth border, be one solid
color, and be smaller than a pencil eraser.
Slide 30: Spot the Malignant Mole!!
Which mole should you have a doctor take a look at?
Show them the pictures of the moles!
Answers: B and E.
Reinforce the fact that sometimes it’s hard to tell a dangerous mole from a harmless
one, so “when in doubt – get it checked out!”
Slide 31 – 43: Unscramble the word… use the clue as a guide.
Give the teams 2 minutes to unscramble each of the words.
Below is an explanation for each answer, as well as additional clues if the students
are stuck!
Answers in order:
Shadow
 If your shadow is shorter than you, the sun is directly above you and you are
at a higher risk for developing a sunburn
 Remember if you have a “short shadow = seek shade”
 Additional clues:
o It follows you everywhere.
o We all have it when we are outside in the sun.
Wrinkles
 Remember “a tan today = wrinkles tomorrow”
 Additional clues:
o Grandpas and Grandmas usually have them.
SPF
 Stands for Sun Protection Factor – it is a measure of how long a sunscreen
can protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays
 The higher the SPF number is, the more protection it provides!
o eg) An SPF of 45 gives 45x more protection than unprotected skin
 Additional clues:
o You can find this on the front of every sunscreen bottle.
Sunscreen
 Remember to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, especially if you are playing
sports where you will be sweating or if you are swimming.
o In addition, try to find sweat-proof or waterproof sunscreens
 For the most protection, you should always use a sunscreen with an SPF of
30 or higher!
 Additional clues:
o It comes in a bottle.
o It comes with a SPF label.
Sunglasses
 Wear sunglasses with both UVA/UVB protection
 Additional clues:
o You wear these on your face.
Sun Rays
 The sun produces UVA and UVB radiation
 UVA - causes aging & skin cancer
 UVB - causes burning & skin cancer
 Additional clues:
o Too much and they will cause burns.
Slide 44-51: True or False
Go through each question individually.
Answers: (tell them the answers and the explanations)
A. TRUE
 Underneath their fur a dog’s skin is just like ours!! So make sure you don’t
shave your dog’s fur/hair too short and keep them inside on hot summer days.
B. TRUE
 Tightly woven fabrics provide better protection than loosely woven fabric and
in general, the darker the color the greater the protection.
C. TRUE
 You can use both bug spray and sunscreen, but they cannot be applied at the
same time. Make sure you apply your sunscreen first and wait as long as you
can before putting on bug spray.
D. TRUE
 Sunglasses or wide brim hats will help protect your eyes.
E. FALSE
 Tanning Beds use a combination of UVA and UVB light, both of which have
been linked to skin cancer. Using a tanning bed before the age of 35 increases
your risk of developing skin cancer by 75%!
F. FALSE
 A tan is a sign of skin damage. Therefore seeking a base tan is not a good
way to prevent burning for anyone – especially for fair skinned people
because they are at a higher risk for developing skin cancer. Remember your
skin only provides a natural SPF of 2-4. It is recommended that you should
always wear a sunscreen with SPF of 30 when you are in the sun.
G. TRUE
 People with darker skin tones and those who tan easily, may not be at high
risk for developing skin cancer, but they can still get skin cancer from
excessive sun exposure. Remember no matter what your skin color is, you
should always practice sun safety!
Slide 52: Tips To Protect Yourself!
Go through each point.
A) Remember that tanned skin is damaged skin!
B) The sun’s rays are always strongest between 10am and 4pm. So make sure
you take the necessary precautions to protect your skin
C) Always use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Remember to reapply
your sunscreen every 2 hours and to use sweat-proof or waterproof
sunscreen.
D) Protect yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays by wearing a wide-brimmed
hat, sunglasses with UV protection and dark clothing, long sleeves and long
shorts.
E) Remember your ABCDE’s of detection and “when in doubt, get it checked
out” by your doctor.
END OF THE GAME… (~35 mins)
Leave yourself ~10 minutes to wrap up the presentation.
Slide 53-54: REVIEW
Again ask the kids the following questions and try to get them to answer the best they
can!
See the suggested answers below. (Please go into as much or as little detail as you
prefer).
What is skin cancer?
 Skin cancer just means the abnormal growth of skin cells. Your skin is
made up of different types of cells, which is why you can get different types
of skin cancer (i.e. Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and
Melanoma).
 If caught an early stage, skin cancer can be treated easily by removing the
cancerous tissue. At later stages, especially with melanoma, treatment may
involve surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation.
o This is why it’s so important to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful
UV rays and to check your skin for new moles or spots on a regular
basis!
Where does it come from?
 Skin cancer is triggered by the sun’s UV rays
 Skin cancer can result from either long exposure to the sun (ie. over a
lifetime), or an intense amount of sun in a short period of time (ie. a really bad
sunburn in childhood)
 People who are at greater risk for developing skin cancer are those who:
o Always burn, never tan, and are fair skinned
o Have a family history of skin cancer, had a really bad sunburn as a
child, or have a lot of abnormal moles
o Spend long periods of time in the sun (i.e. professional athletes and
lifeguards)
o People who use artificial tanning beds
What can you do to prevent it?
 Show the ‘Protect Your Skin’ slide after the group discussion (slide 54)
 Protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays!!
o The best way to do this is to stay out of the sun between 10 am and 4
pm, when the sun’s rays are at their strongest
o You should always use a sunscreen with at least an SPF 30, and
reapply it every two hours (especially if you are swimming or
sweating!)
o You can also protect yourself by wearing long-sleeves, long shorts,
broad-rimmed hats and sunglasses
 You can also protect yourself by remembering your ABCDE’s. Look for
asymmetry, irregular border, change in color, increased diameter and
evolving/changing moles
o Remember: if you see a change in a mole or other spot on your skin –
get it checked out by a doctor! (“When in doubt, get it checked out!”)
Finally end the presentation with….
Slide 55-57: Wrap Up and Questions
 If the student’s or teacher’s have questions that you do not know the answers
to, please tell them to contact the Canadian Skin Cancer Foundation at
www.canadianskincancerfoundation.com and a representative from the
foundation will contact the teacher directly with the answers to their
questions!
 Invite students to visit www.igosafe.ca/education to review what they have
learned today and receive their certificate of participation to show their
parents and their teachers.
Please hand out the rest of the pamphlets, UV bracelets and sunscreen to the
students and their teacher.
Congratulations you are done!!
Thank-you for taking the time to help the Canadian Skin Cancer Foundation
promote skin cancer education and sun safe practices in today’s youth.