Climate Technology: How to Make a Solar Oven

The sun rises and shines every morning and gives our planet endless amounts of light, heat, and energy! Just the way it warms up water and land, its energy can be collected and used to make electricity and heat buildings like your school and home.

During the 1950s, scientists and innovators began to create technology that turns sunlight into solar energy. That process is possible through special devices called solar collectors and solar panels. That’s how the term “solar power” was born. It means power generated directly from sunlight. That type of energy has two extremely valuable benefits that can help us in the fight against climate change.

  1. Solar energy can be created again and again as there is an endless supply of sunlight.

  2. Using solar energy doesn’t cause any pollution and doesn’t emit any carbon emissions. Compared to burning coal and natural gas, solar energy is an incredible renewable way to slow down global warming through lowering the greenhouse gasses we emit into the atmosphere.

Today, we invite you to explore how solar energy is produced through this easy science experiment—making your very own solar oven!

All you need:

  • One pizza box or another small box you have available at home

  • Tinfoil

  • Plastic wrap

  • Scissors and an adult supervisor

  • Black plate or darker color

  1. Put the foil on the inside of the box and cover its bottom with it. We are using foil because it will trap heat and will act as an insulator.

  2. We will need to find a way to let light in the box, but keep the heat inside it. To achieve that, we will need to change the design of the box a bit. Carefully, cut a flap on the top that will allow it to open and close. If you need extra help, watch this great video tutorial by SciShow Kids.

  3. Under the flap, tape the plastic wrap. That way it will act as a window allowing for the light to come in that also keeps the heat inside.

  4. Did you know that light can bounce? Light gets reflected in mirrors and shiny objects and we can actually use this light! That’s why we will wrap the flap on top of the box in tinfoil, maximizing the sunlight coming into the solar oven.

  5. Add a stick, a ruler, or a pencil to keep the flap open in preparation for cooking time. Almost there!

  6. Put a plate inside your oven, but first try to guess what color plate would be strategically better to use? White or black? The color matters! Black and darker colors heat up in the sunlight faster than white and light colors! So in case you want your food to get cooked quicker, pick a black, dark blue, or dark brown plate.

  7. Last, but not least, decide what you want to cook in your new solar oven! You can melt marshmallows, dry seaweed, cook mozzarella pizza bagels, melt chocolate and cheese, or dry grapes or tomatoes!

  8. Send us photos of your solar oven and the food you made with it by tagging us at @KvaroyKids!