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Solar Oven Unit


									3-5 Earth Science
3-5 Nature of Science

Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program

                            Solar Oven Unit

The Sun is the main source of energy for our planet, Earth. Children are
naturally curious about the power of the sun. They are exposed to its
light and heat every day. This lesson explores one method of harnessing
the power of the sun to create a solar oven.

Solar ovens work by concentrating the radiant energy from the Sun’s
rays in a cooking area by way of a reflective surface like a mirror or
aluminum foil. The heat is then trapped in the cooking device by sealing
the area with a protective cover, plastic wrap. Solar ovens can reach
temperatures in excess of 425 degrees Fahrenheit. The concept is the
same as the greenhouse effect, trapping passive solar heat in a contained
unit. The light is able to pass through the glass enclosure, but the heat is
trapped in the enclosure.
This is not a new technology. Solar cookers have been reportedly used
as far back as the 18th century in Europe and India. Solar ovens are a
great alternative to costly, non-renewable sources of energy. Once
constructed, there is no cost to the user and no pollution to the
environment. The energy produced from the Sun is a renewable
resource; therefore it is available on an unlimited basis (during daylight
hours). Solar ovens are being used widely today and the green
movement is further spreading their use and availability. There is one
factor to keep in mind when using a solar oven, the availability of
sunlight. They are only successful in sunny locations.

(per group)
      • 1 thermometer
      • 1 100mL beaker
      • Water
      • Aluminum foil
      • Plastic wrap
      • Small box (shoe box size or pizza box)
      • Black paper
      • Newspaper
      • 2 Dowel sticks
      • Glue
      • Scissors
      • Index card
      • Graham Crackers
      • Marshmallows
      • Chocolate candy bars
      • Paper plates
      • Napkins
      • Chart paper
      • Markers, Crayons, Colored pencils
      • Ruler
      • Science Notebooks

Lesson One
  1. Call the students to the carpet area to discuss the Sun. Ask
     students to think about what the Sun provides for them every day.
     Record their ideas on chart paper to reference later.
2. Tell the students that today they will be investigating the heat
   energy that is given off from the Sun.
3. Introduce the thermometer. Explain to the students that they will
   use this tool in their investigation. Model how to use the
   thermometer by placing it in a cup of cold water and reading the
   recorded temperature after one minute. Tell the students that the
   red liquid inside the thermometer is alcohol. When the
   temperature is cool, the liquid condenses and lowers, recording a
   low temperature. When the temperature is warm, the liquid
   expands and rises, showing a higher temperature. NOTE: Do not
   use mercury thermometers.
4. Tell the students that they will place a cup of water in the shade
   and a cup of water in the Sun and record the temperatures of both
   cups every five minutes. Instruct the students to make a prediction
   in their science notebooks about what they think will happen to the
   temperature of both of the beakers.
5. With their group, the students should discuss what they think will
   happen and record their prediction. Once the students have
   predicted, instruct them to place 100mL of room temperature water
   in each of their two beakers. Next, take the class outside to find
   two locations for the group’s beakers, one in the shade, and one in
   direct sunlight. Two students will be responsible for monitoring
   and recording the shaded beaker, and two will monitor and record
   the beaker in the sunlight.
6. Instruct the students to place the beakers in their respective places
   and take the initial reading. Every five minutes, instruct the
   students to take the next reading and record in their science
   notebooks. After each reading is taken, allow the group members
   to meet in order to share the data and discuss any pattern that they
7. After 30 minutes, instruct the students to take their final reading
   and gather their materials to return to the classroom.
8. Upon entering the classroom, call the students to the carpet area
   with their science notebooks and discuss what the groups noticed
   during their investigation. Did they see a pattern? Was their initial
     prediction correct? Did anything surprise them about taking the
     temperature readings? Introduce the concept of radiant energy to
     the students as energy given off by the sun. Ask them to record
     this in their science notebooks along with any further questions
     that they may have.

Lesson Two
  1. Invite the students to the carpet area to review temperature and the
     concept of radiant energy. Explain that they will be creating
     graphs or charts to organize their data from yesterday. Ask the
     students how they think they might want to organize their data.
     Ask them how they organized their data in their science notebooks.
     Record their ideas on chart paper. Suggest two methods of
     organization; a T chart and a line graph. NOTE: It is ultimately
     the students’ choice how they want to display their data; however,
     these two organizers will work well to represent their data.
  2. Send the students back to their groups and tell them to discuss how
     they would like to organize their data keeping in mind the
     suggestions from the class.
  3. Instruct each group to create a draft of their graph in their science
     notebooks and check to ensure all data is clear and easy to read.
     They must also include a written interpretation of any trend they
     notice in their graph.
  4. Once the groups have their graph sketched out, they may get a
     large piece of chart paper from the materials station with the
     coloring tools of their choice; colored pencils, markers, or crayons,
     along with a ruler and begin constructing their graphs.
  5. After the graphs are created, allow the students the opportunity to
     share these and explain their results with the class. Discuss any
     patterns that you see in the data represented.
  6. Look at the various representations of the students’ data. Discuss
     when to use certain graphs/charts. Keep the graphs posted in the
     room and allow the students the opportunity to look at each
     group’s work.
Lesson Three
  1. Start the lesson by asking the students to describe what it is like
     getting into a car with rolled up windows in the summer. Ask
     them where they think the heat came from. Continue by telling the
     students that today they will be exploring how to harness the heat
     given off from the Sun. They saw firsthand how the Sun warms
     objects that are directly exposed to it, so how can students use that
     heat? Solar ovens! Ask them what they think they know about
     solar ovens. Have they ever heard of them before? Seen them?
     Ask them why they think people use them. Where can they be
     used? Chart their ideas and questions and leave to reference later.
  2. Show the students various photos of designs of solar cookers that
     are presently being used around the world. You can access these
     photos at
     Discuss features that they notice about the solar ovens. List
     similarities and differences. Show them a model of a solar oven
     that you have built from a pizza box by following the directions
     below. Share the directions with them and keep posted in a visible
     place in the room.
     NOTE: Directions taken from:

           1) Make sure the cardboard is folded into its box shape and
           2) Place the piece of notebook paper in the center of the lid
              of the box and trace its outline on the lid. Put the piece of
              paper aside.
           3) Carefully cut the two long edges and one of the short
              edges of the rectangle that you just traced on the lid of the
              box, forming a flap of cardboard.
         4) Gently fold the flap back along the uncut edge to form a
         5) Wrap the underside (inside) face of this flap with
            aluminum foil. Tape it on the other side so that the foil is
            held firmly. Try to keep the tape from showing on the foil
            side of the flap. The foil will help to reflect the sunlight
            into the box.
         6) Open the box and place a piece of black construction
            paper in so it fits the bottom of the box. This will help to
            absorb the sun's heat.
         7) Close the box, roll up some newspaper, and fit it around
            the inside edges of the box. This is the insulation that
            helps hold in the sun's heat. It should be about 1 to 1 1/2
            inches thick. Use tape to hold the newspaper in place, but
            only tape it to the bottom of the box, not the lid.
         8) Cut two pieces of plastic wrap an inch larger than the flap
            opening on the box top. Open the box again and tape one
            piece of plastic wrap to the underside of the flap opening.
            After taping one side, BE SURE TO PULL THE
            PLASTIC WRAP TIGHT, and tape down all four sides so
            the plastic is sealed against the cardboard. Then close the
            box and tape the other piece of plastic wrap to the top of
            the flap opening. Again, be sure the plastic wrap is tight
            and tape down all four edges to form a seal. This creates a
            layer of air as insulation that helps keep the sun's heat in
            the box.

3. Challenge them to create a design to use in building their own
   solar oven. Brainstorm a list of necessary materials to use in
   creating their solar oven. Post this list in a visible location in the
   room. Items to include should be:
                • Box (shoe box, pizza box, etc.)
                • Black paper
                • Aluminum foil
                • Clear plastic wrap
                • Wooden dowel sticks
                • Newspaper (optional)
                • Glue
                • Scissors
  4. Instruct them to work in their groups to design an oven that will
     trap the heat in by absorbing the sun’s rays. They need a reflective
     surface (aluminum foil) and a method to keep the heat inside the
     solar oven (plastic wrap). This sketch and plan should be recorded
     in their science notebooks.
  5. Circulate the room to look at students’ plans and offer suggestions
     for success. Tell them they may bring in materials from home if
     they do not want to be restricted to the provided items from the
     above materials list.
  6. Close the lesson by discussing what they learned about trapping
     the heat from the sun, passive solar heating. Tell them that they
     will create their ovens in class during the next lesson and to be
     prepared with any additional materials they may need from home.

Lesson Four
  1. Invite the students to the carpet area to review their blueprint for
     the solar oven they will create in class. Encourage them to share
     their ideas with each other before the construction begins. Review
     the concept of solar heating; the key in the construction is to reflect
     the Sun’s rays and trap the heat in the oven to cook the food placed
  2. Instruct the students to return to their groups and begin
     construction on their ovens. Post the original pizza box solar oven
     directions as a template for them to follow. They may deviate
     from the original directions if they have brought additional
     materials from home. Provide all materials on the materials table
       for them to access freely. They are designing their own ovens, so
       there is no prescribed list of materials, merely a list of suggested
  3.   Once the ovens are constructed (may take several days) you are
       ready to test them by cooking in the ovens. Tell the students that
       they will be making S’Mores in their ovens.
  4.   At the beginning of the school day, place the ovens outside to
       collect a substantial amount of heat by lunch time. Attach a note
       card to the front of the oven to record the time and temperature
       throughout the day. NOTE: If it is a windy day, place rocks on
       top of the ovens to secure them to the ground.
  5.   Record the first time and temperature reading when the ovens
       initially are placed in the sunlight. Return to the ovens every hour
       to record the time and temperature as well as adjusting the ovens to
       make sure they are exposed to direct sunlight.
  6.   At lunchtime, place your S’Mores in the ovens and wait for them
       to cook. This typically takes about 10 minutes. Record a final
       temperature and enjoy your sweet treat!
  7.   After they are finished with their S’Mores, instruct the students to
       gather their ovens and return to the classroom.
  8.   Gather the students at the carpet area and discuss what they noticed
       during their investigation. How long did it take their S’Mores to
       cook? Did some cook faster than others? What oven recorded the
       highest temperature? Does design matter when trying to harness
       the most heat? Record their ideas and further questions.

Lesson Five
  1. Invite the students to the carpet area to review their experiences
     with the solar ovens. Tell them their goal for today is to think
     about any changes that they would make to create a more efficient,
     hotter oven.
  2. Instruct them to place their ovens on their group table tops. They
     will then circulate the room and observe all of the solar ovens that
     were created. They are to take note of how hot the oven got during
     the investigation. This is recorded on the note card on the front of
     the oven. Encourage them to jot down ideas as they are observing
     the ovens.
  3. Once they have observed all of the ovens, they must come up with
     two modifications to their oven to make it more efficient. These
     can come from what they observed from other student ovens, or
     generated ideas through group discussion.
  4. Give each group a large piece of chart paper to sketch or write out
     their modifications. Give each group an opportunity to share what
     they have learned and what they will change to make a better,
     more efficient solar oven.
  5. Close the lesson by discussing why we should use solar ovens and
     the benefits to our society and planet if we use this type of
     renewable, clean energy.

  • Allow the students to create their new and improved solar ovens
     based on their two modifications and test them by cooking the
     S’Mores again. Compare the new temperatures to their original
  • Try cooking other food based on student ideas. Are there certain
     foods that cook better in the solar ovens? Investigate and find out!

Additional Resources
U.S. Department of Energy website with guided instructions on how to
build a pizza box solar oven.
Information on the history of solar cookers.
Informational site on various solar cooking designs complete with
instructions and photos.
National Energy Education Development Project’s website that includes
downloadable booklets and free materials.
    Radiant energy: The energy given off by the Sun.
    Solar energy: Energy from the Sun. This energy takes several
    forms, including visible light and infrared light that can be felt as
    Solar oven: A simple, low-cost device using focused sunshine to
    cook rice, boil water, etc.
    Sun: A star around which Earth and other planets revolve. It
    furnishes heat, light, and energy.
    Thermometer: A tool that is used to measure temperature.
    Ultraviolet radiation: High-energy, invisible radiation with
    wavelengths shorter than violet light and longer than X-rays.

Safety Reminders
  • Do not look directly into the Sun when conducting these
  • Cook food that will not spoil easily.
  • Cover all solar ovens completely to keep out dirt and insects.
  • Do not use mercury thermometers.

Nevada State Science Standards
E5A1 Students know the Sun is the main source of energy for planet
Earth. E/S
N5A1 Students know scientific progress is made by conducting careful
investigations, recording data, and communicating the results in an
accurate method. E/S
N5A5 Students know how to plan and conduct a safe and simple
investigation. E/S
N5A7 Students know observable patterns can be used to organize items
and ideas. E/S
N5B3 Students know the benefits of working with a team and sharing
findings. E/L




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