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Ray and the Sunbeatables® & Be Sunbeatable™Evidence-Based Sun Safety Programs

About the Programs

Created and developed by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Ray and the Sunbeatables®: A Sun Safety Curriculum for Pre-K through 1 and Be Sunbeatable™ for grades 2-5, are sun safety programs that are flexible and easy to implement by educators into their daily classroom routines, age-appropriate, and free for schools to use. Engaging and evidence-based, sun safety programs and activities educate children about sun protection and promote sun safety behaviors in an effort to reduce a lifetime risk of developing skin cancer.

Ray and the Sunbeatables® engages children through fun superhero characters and Be Sunbeatable™ is integrated through English Language Arts and STEM lessons. Students additionally develop skills in teamwork, group and applied learning, and critical thinking all while having fun.

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“They are really applying what they are learning. One parent the other day said my daughter, my kindergarten student, came home teaching my older daughter about sun safety, so they are really learning.”

— Principal


 

Program Value

Ray and the Sunbeatables® and Be Sunbeatable™ equips educators with grade specific lessons and teacher’s guides to ensure smooth curriculum implementation. Additionally, quick training videos are offered and accessible at all times to educators to spread sun safety awareness.

Students in grades Pre-K through 1 will feel engaged in fun curriculum lessons to help Ray and his friends stay sun safe every day and everywhere they go. Throughout these lessons, children learn why and how to be sun safe in their daily lives, and how to find their own Sunbeatable Superpowers. Students in grades 2-5 engage in classroom discussions and activities to apply knowledge learned about sun safety. Additionally, other subject matters are integrated within their learning, such as language arts and STEM.

Parents also have the opportunity to participate in their child’s learning at-home through free available resources.


The Importance of Sun Safety

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Teaching children about sun safety can have a long-term and positive impact on their health. Sun protection is important year-round, even on cloudy or cold days where UV rays can still pass through the clouds and reach skin. It is important for children to develop sun protection habits to reduce their lifetime risk of skin cancer. Anyone, regardless of skin color, can develop skin cancer, including melanoma, the most deadly type.

 

Why Sun Safety?

1 in 5

people will develop skin cancer in their lifetime

ONE

or more sunburns in childhood doubles a person's lifetime risk of melanoma

100K+

cases of invasive melanoma expected in 2023


The children LOVE the hat activity. We do that lesson at the beginning of the unit, so they have their hats for recess during our extended school year in July.

It is a wonderful program. The children especially like the superheroes. The older children (early school age) were able to put on the puppet show for the younger children.

I am so glad that we got this training and curriculum. The parents are following through, because the kids sing the songs and let their parents know how important it is to be sun-safe.


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I will plan more physical activities for my students from now on!

CATCH Colombia Trainee
This [program] helps concentration, attention span, and joy.

CATCH Colombia Trainee
I have learned students learn better through movement.

CATCH Colombia Trainee
I feel so good and learned a lot. [The training] enriched my practice and made me feel happy.

CATCH Colombia Trainee

Before this program, I did not think about teaching my students about being sun safe. Living in the Midwest our weather can be gloomy, so on sunny days we are just happy to see the sun. This program has increased my knowledge as well as helped me to educate my students through fun activities in learning about the sun. I look forward to sharing this curriculum with the staff in the next few weeks.

My students started wearing hats during our outside time. Parents put sunscreen on their children and some parents sent water bottles to school.


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