How to make a solar oven

What do you get when you combine cooking, fun, and science? A solar oven! Opt for a scientific way of cooking by building your own solar oven and placing it outside under the sunlight. Inspired by NASA's BEST activity guide, this project requires some patience, but it provides a rewarding and exciting experience for both adults and children.

On a hot summer day, a group of kids were learning and creating an invention that would utilize the weather to their advantage. They were creating a solar oven. A solar oven is a creative and eco-friendly way to cook or heat up food. In this case, the kids were making s’mores in their solar ovens. Instead of making s’mores the traditional way, the kids had the chance to be innovative scientists and be rewarded with sweet treat at the end.

Materials:

• Solar oven
  • Pizza box or cardboard box
  • Plastic wrap
  • Aluminum foil
  • Black construction paper
  • Wooden skewers
  • Glue
  • Tape
  • Scissors
  • Optional: Thermometer
• S’mores
  • Graham crackers
  • Chocolate
  • Marshmallows

Step by Step procedure:
Step 1:

• Cut out a square on the top of the box, leaving at least one inch margins. 
• Only cut three sides of the square and leave the remaining side attached to the box to create a flap.

Step 2:

• Cut out a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover the bottom of the flap.

Step 3:

• Glue the aluminum foil to the bottom of the flap.

Step 4:

• Line the inside of the pizza box with black construction paper and glue it together.

Step 5:

• Cut out enough plastic wrap to cover the square window 2 times.
• Cover the square window with plastic wrap.
• Use tape to secure the plastic wrap.

Step 6:

• Poke 2 wooden skewers into the box in order to keep the flap on an angle.
• Be sure to adjust the angle of the flap in order to make sure the most sunlight will be reflected.

Step 7:

• Place the graham crackers and marshmallows on top of a piece of foil in the solar oven.

Step 8:

• Place your solar oven out in the sun.
• It is best to use your solar oven between 10:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. when the sun’s rays are strongest.
• Wait until the marshmallows are slightly melted and place the chocolate on top.
• Once the chocolate is melted, take the s’mores out of the solar oven and place graham crackers on top.
• Enjoy your sweet creation!

Why it works and the science behind it?
The aluminum foil reflects the sunlight, allowing it to be absorbed by the black construction paper. The plastic wrap over the square window traps the heat, which makes the temperature in the solar oven increase. The additional aluminum foil on the bottom acts as a plate and also channels heat to melt the marshmallows.