Cook Food Using the Sun's Heat: Build a Solar Oven
Provided by: The Kid Should See This|Published on: May 19, 2022|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Physics, Engineering
Authors: The Kid Should See This, Send a Cow Uganda
Location: Africa, Earth
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This resource highlights the value and simplicity of energy from the Sun, as they watch a man construct a solar oven from materials he had on hand and then use it to cook a meal.
- Students will learn about the basics of solar energy, how to build a solar oven, and how this sustainable resource can be used as an alternative to fossil fuels in many areas or during certain times of the year.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This engaging video gives students the opportunity to see one way that everyday tasks can be accomplished using more environmentally sustainable methods.
- This site contains links to 10 additional resources.
Additional Prerequisites
- If teachers choose to build a solar oven in class, the best model should be chosen ahead of time in order to collect the appropriate materials.
- The link to solar oven s'mores is broken, however similar recipes could be found elsewhere.
Differentiation
- This resource provides links to directions for a variety of methods of building a solar oven in class and teachers can choose the best design based on material availability and the ages of students.
- Students could build solar ovens in groups and find simple recipes to try cooking with them.
- This digital text could help young learners explore the basics of solar energy.
- Other resources on this topic include this video which provides an overview of some ways to harness the sun's energy, this solar oven project, and this video showcasing fourth graders who created a solar-powered classroom.
This video shows how you can use everyday materials, the Sun, and the principles of electromagnetic radiation to create a zero-waste, emission free, solar-powered oven. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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