Solar S'mores: Cooking with the Sun

A solar oven uses the sun’s energy! The shiny foil inside the oven reflects sunlight into the box, concentrating the heat. The plastic wrap acts like a greenhouse, trapping warm air inside so it can’t escape. The black paper absorbs heat, making the inside even hotter.

Together, these parts turn sunlight into a little oven that gets warm enough to melt chocolate and marshmallows. That’s why your s’more bakes, even though you’re only using the power of the sun!

This is an example of solar energy and how we can use renewable resources to cook food and power the world.

The Experiment

Materials

• Cardboard (a pizza box shape would be preferable)

• Aluminum Foil

• Scissors or Craft Knife

• Glue

• Plastic wrap

• Sharpies/Markers (optional)

• Black Construction Paper

• Wooden Skewer/Stick

• Graham Crackers

• Marshmallows

• Chocolate Pieces

Procedure

1. If you don't have a pizza box, a shoe box, or any box like that, tape and cut your cardboard to make it into the shape of a pizza box.

2. Cut the "oven door" flap on the top of your box

3. Decorate the "oven" with your sharpies and markers

4. Glue the black construction paper to the bottom of the solar oven

5. Cover the inside of the oven flap with aluminum foil

6. Holding the flap open, tape the plastic wrap over the opening of the oven

7. Assemble your s'mores, and place it on the black construction paper

8. Place your oven outside, using the wooden skewer to prop it open

9. Wait until the marshmallow has puffed up, which should take around 90 minutes on a hot summer day, but will vary based on the temperature outside

10. Enjoy!

If you want to test your knowledge, complete this quiz:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdr-9fiNH45_DnP__H4zlG633aC5Ozj7H75i3300KcUn2ldjQ/viewform?usp=header