Future leaders, make your voice heard about the world you want to live in by filling out this 5-min survey!

Making a Solar Oven

Provided by: U.S. Department of Energy |Published on: April 27, 2021

Lesson Plans

5678

Synopsis

This activity from the US Department of Energy teaches students about solar ovens and provides instructions on building a simple solar cooker.
The resource is a downloadable PDF with detailed instructions.

Subjects: Physics, Earth and Space Sciences, Engineering

Authors: U.S. Department of Energy

Region: Global

Languages: English

Positives

Additional Prerequisites

There is a list of materials needed for students to construct the ovens, but students could easily substitute with other materials.
You could provide context for the activity with this resource about greenhouse gas emissions and this one about climate solutions.

Differentiation

Social studies classes could use this resource to discuss solutions for communities experiencing power outages or in areas without electricity.
A discussion about renewable energy and the use of solar in different parts of the world would be a logical follow-up to this activity.
Have students carry out modifications to the provided design and challenge them to optimize their cookers.
Similar resources to consider include this video about reusing materials to make a solar oven and these resources about "daylighting" homes and buildings and passive home design.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format