About This Lesson
Subjects
- Earth Science
- Engineering
- Math
Time
- 60-90 minutes
Skills
- Teamwork
- Measurement
- Problem-solving
- Construction
Learning Objective/Goal:
- Understand and apply concepts of solar energy and heat transfer.
- Construct a functional solar oven using basic materials.
- Conduct an experiment to test and improve the solar oven's performance.
Materials Needed:
- Cardboard boxes (shoe box or pizza box size)
- Aluminum foil
- Plastic wrap
- Black construction paper
- Tape (duct tape or masking tape)
- Scissors
- Something to cook - s’mores are always suggested
Background
- Solar ovens harness the sun’s energy to cook food, demonstrating the principles of solar energy and heat transfer. This activity provides a hands-on experience for students to learn about renewable energy and its practical applications. Students can be assessed by how well their oven operates and if it can successfully cook or melt the intended food/item.
Activity
Introduction:
- Introduce the concept of solar energy and discuss its importance as a renewable resource.
- Explain how a solar oven works by using the sun's energy to heat and cook food. Discuss key concepts such as reflection, absorption, and insulation
- Describe how the sun is a renewable source of energy that we can harness
Construction:
- Show an example of a simple solar oven or a picture of one and provide instructions on how to build it and how it works to trap heat
- Encourage students to build their own designs more modify the example one to better suit the item they intend to be cooking
- Provide the necessary materials and supplies (no hot glue, it might melt).
- Emphasize creating a flap on the lid to reflect sunlight into the box and securing the plastic wrap to create a window for trapping heat.
Outdoors setup:
- Have students place their solar ovens outside in a sunny area. Adjust the flap to reflect sunlight into the oven.
- Optional: Place a thermometer inside each oven to monitor the temperature.
- Check after about 30 minutes and have the students make observations
- When cooked/finished, remove the lid and/or plastic wrap and enjoy!
Extra
Tips for Students:
- Most parts of the solar oven can be re-used and can bake more objects in the future. Think of other items that you could cook with the sun
- Ensure the plastic wrap is tightly secured to trap heat effectively.
- Adjust the flap to reflect the maximum amount of sunlight in the oven.
Tips for Teachers:
- Give students complete creative freedom to decorate their solar ovens as they want
- Solar ovens can take up to an hour to roast/bake the food item. Plan accordingly and have another lesson on hand to fill the time
Extensions:
- Experiment with different materials students present their designs in front of the class
- Test the ovens at different times of the day to see how the angle of the sun affects cooking.
References
