Learn How to Make a Solar Oven From a Pizza Box!
How to make a solar oven! That’s right – Goodbye Easy Bake Oven – Hello solar cooking. With summer right around the corner and kids home, we will be introducing a series of summer projects for kids!
If you are looking for a sun kid science project – this is the perfect acticity for those hot summer days. Here in Texas – we KNOW hot. It gets disgustingly hot here. So what better geeky project to do then to use that heat for good.
How to Make a Solar Oven
Easy Bake Oven, forget about it. Let me show you how to make a solar oven with a pizza box! With a solar oven, you can bake cookies or a kid favorite: smores! Your kids will love this science project!
Let’s get to it. Here is what you’ll need to make a solar oven.
Solar Oven Supplies:
- A large pizza box
- A ruler
- A black marker
- Box cutter
- Heavy duty aluminum foil
- Glue
- Scissors
- Clear plastic wrap
- Tape
- Black construction paper
Option:
- Stick or plastic straw
- Laser pointer
Let’s Get Started!
Using the ruler and black marker, draw a square on your pizza box lid leaving a 1 inch border on each side of the pizza box.
Using the box cutter cut out, cut 3 sides of the square you just drew, leaving the line at the rear of the box attached.
Fold the flap back so it stands up when the pizza box lid is attached.
Using the glue as an adhesive, cover the underside of the flap with heavy duty aluminum foil. Smooth out wrinkles and cut off any excess.
With the scissors cut 2 squares of plastic wrap, both bigger than the size of the pizza box flap opening.
Tape one of the square over the whole, fastening the plastic wrap to the underside of the pizza box.
Close the lid and take the second plastic sheet and cover the pizza box hold on the other side of the pizza box top. Creating a window to help keep the suns heat in the box.
Pull both sheets taught as you tape them.
TIP: Make sure the plastic is tight to the edges to maintain an airtight seal.
Glue or tape a layer of aluminum foil to the inside of the pizza box for insulation.
Cover the foil layer in the box with sheets of black construction paper and glue them into place.
Close your lid and you are ready to start cooking!
Adjust the foil flap to find the best ray reflecting angle. Use the ruler, a straw or stick to keep the flap strapped into place.
Tip: You can use the laser pointer to test the angles of the sun for your oven before taking it outside.
Get Baking in the Sun!
Preheat your oven by leaving outside for 30 minutes.
Get ready to bake cookies, smores or reheat a slice of pizza. Remember to make sure that all food is thoroughly cooked before eating.
More Science Projects for Kids
Interested in MORE summer activities like this? Check out our list of summer kids activities and our 50+ list of Kids Science Projects!
We hope you enjoyed this summer project for kids, How to Make a Solar Oven. Tell us in the comments what you end up making in your solar oven!
