Solar

Ovens

Made

From

Pizza

Boxes

This is one of the many activities that we completed in our study of solar energy.

The title of the book that we got the solar experiments from is "At Home with the Sun", written by Michael J. Daley. It is designed for ages 6-12 and can be purchased for $7.95 from

PSP: Professor Solar Press
RFD #3, Box 627
Putney, VT 05346

"At Home with the Sun" has a good introduction to solar energy, a solar glossary and ten fun solar experiments.

Check Out Some Other Solar Cookers

The Pizza Box Solar Oven:

You will need:

Procedure:

  1. Tape foil to the inside bottom of the box.
    Cover the foil with black paper.
    Tape in place.

  2. Put the box on the plastic.
    Draw the outline of the box on the plastic with the marker.
    Cut the plastic about 1/4 inch inside the marks.

  3. On the top of the box, draw a line one inch from all sides.
    Cut along front and side lines BUT NOT along the back.
    This will be the hinge for the flap.
    Carefully fold open the flap.

  4. Cut a piece of foil the size of the flap.
    Glue it to the side of the flap that faces INTO the box.
    Flatten out all the winkles.
    Wipe glue smears off with a damp towel before they dry.

  5. Tape the plastic to the inside of the box.
    Tape one side first, then the opposite side.
    Make it tight so it looks like glass.
    Tape the other edges.
    Seal tight so no air can get in.

  6. Cut a piece of string as long as the box.
    Tape one end to the top of the flap.
    Push a small nail into the back of the box so you have a place to tie the string.

  7. Give it a try ... (English muffin pizzas, melting rate of chocolate "s-mores," etc....)

  8. Can you improve your oven? (add insulation, add reflectors, etc...)

  9. What else can you cook?

The pizza boxes were donated by Pizza Hut.

We had a lot of help from
the President of Solar Works, Leigh Seddon.

He took much of his valuable time to introduce us to concepts about Solar Energy.

Thank You SolarWorks of Montpelier, Vermont!

Thank you Pizza Hut of Berlin, Vermont!

To the Union Elementary School Home Page

e-mail comments to Roger Crowley

See one young man's experimentation with solar cookers for a science fair project!

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