Prerequisite Activity 4--Solar Cooking
Summary: The students will construct a solar oven to S'mores.
Materials: cardboard boxes (2 for each group) , foil, plastic wrap, masking tape, glue, tag board, thermometers, Graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate squares (Nestles works great), clear plastic cups, paint (several colors)
TEKS: 2.1A 2.2A thru F 2.3A,B,C 2.7A,B
Objectives:
Measure temperature
Analyze and make corrections
Procedures:
1. Allow children to experiment in creating a solar cooker. Remind them of what they know
about absorbing and reflecting heat.
2. After allowing time to construct the ovens, take them outside. Measure the
temperature inside each oven.
3. Construct the S'mores and cook them in the oven. Record the amount of time it takes to
melt the chocolate.
Questions:
1. What is making some ovens heat more than others?
2. What happens when you change the angle of the oven to the sun?
3. What type of reflective material did you use?
4. How did you trap the heat inside the oven?
Expanding the Lesson:
1. Allow time for the children to reconstruct their ovens. Remeasure temperature
of ovens.
2. Try cooking again.
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Last Edited: August 23, 2000