Are you looking for a fun, educational, and delicious activity to do with your kids? Building a DIY solar oven is a fantastic project that combines science, creativity, culinary skills, and environmental awareness. (Bet you didn’t see that last one coming!)

Not only will kids learn about solar energy, but they will also get the satisfaction of cooking something using their very own homemade device.

Here’s a step-by-step guide for making a simple DIY solar oven with materials you probably already have at home!

Sun Science Family Unit Study

Before we get into the instructions for building your very own solar oven, did you know I have a whole unit study all about sun science? In fact, building a solar oven is one of the 10 hands-on activities from the unit study!

In the Sun Science Family Unit Study, you’ll explore:

1. All about the sun and how to build a solar updraft tower,
2. How the sun influences the seasons with a beautiful art activity,
3. The summer solstice and how people celebrate,
4. The science of shadows,
5. How a sundial works,
6. The relationship between color, light, and heat,
7. How a sunset creates such beautiful colors,
8. Solar power and how to build a solar oven,
9. Creating art with the sun,
10. And last but not least, how to stay safe in the sun.

You can get the Sun Science Family Unit Study right here,

or the Nature’s Child Family Unit Study Bundle for a discounted bundle collection of five units studies, each with a strong nature and art focus (which includes Sun Science) here: https://shop.howweelearn.com/products/natures-child-bundle

Grab a sample and take a peek inside my Stars and Constellations Unit Study! You can also see the entire collection of Unit Studies available in my shop right here: https://shop.howweelearn.com/collections/family-unit-studies

How to Make a DIY Solar Oven

Building a solar oven is a wonderful way to teach kids about renewable energy and sustainability! They’ll learn about the greenhouse effect, the importance of using renewable resources, and how sunlight can be harnessed for practical purposes. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to discuss broader environmental issues and the importance of reducing our carbon footprint!

Materials Needed

• A pizza box (or any similar-sized cardboard box with a lid)
• Aluminum foil
• Plastic wrap
• Black construction paper
• Tape
• Glue
• Scissors or a box cutter
• Ruler or stick (to prop open the lid)
• Thermometer (optional)
• Food to cook! (there are 10 yummy ideas for you after the instructions)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the Pizza Box: Start by giving your pizza box a quick clean. Next, draw a square on the lid, leaving a border approximately 1″ wide around the edges. Carefully cut along three sides of the square, creating a flap that can be folded back. This flap will act as the solar oven’s reflector.
2. Line the Flap with Aluminum Foil: Cover the inner side of the flap with aluminum foil, shiny side out. Smooth it out to remove any wrinkles, and secure it with some tape or glue. The aluminum foil will reflect sunlight into the box, increasing the heat inside the oven.
3. Create a Viewing Window: On the inside of the box lid, cover the hole you made with plastic wrap. This will seal your solar oven while still letting sunlight enter it. Make sure the plastic wrap is tight and smooth and sealed well so the heat won’t escape.
4. Line the Box with Black Paper: Cut a piece of black construction paper to fit the bottom of the box and glue it in place. Or you can paint it black. Black absorbs heat better than any other color, which will help increase the temperature inside the oven!
5. Place Your Food Inside: Put your food on a small plate or tray, place it in the center of the box, and close the lid. An aluminum pie plate or a clear glass plate works well.
6. Adjust the Reflector Flap: Prop the foil-covered flap open using a ruler or a stick so it reflects sunlight into the box. You can play around with the angle to maximize how much sunlight is entering your solar oven. Depending on how long your food takes to cook, you might also need to reposition your solar oven as the sun moves.
7. Cook with Solar Power: On a sunny day, the temperature inside a solar oven can get very, very hot!  If you have a thermometer, you could use it to monitor the temperature inside your solar oven. Keep an eye on your food, and when it’s cooked, carefully open the box (it will be hot!) and enjoy your snack.

How does a solar oven work?

Solar power uses energy from the sun and converts it into a usable energy such as heat or electricity. Energy from the sun is a natural, renewable energy source.

Solar ovens trap photons (light particles) from the sun in order to generate the heat required for an oven to cook food. The reflective aluminum foil maximizes the input of sunlight into the oven, and the clear window creates a greenhouse-type effect so the heat can’t escape.

The solar oven attracts more heat than it releases (in essence, trapping heat), allowing the oven to become hot enough to cook food.

What foods can you cook in a solar oven?

There are so many yummy foods that you can try cooking in a solar oven! You could try making:

1. S’mores: Classic and simple, s’mores are a perfect treat to start with! Top a graham cracker with a marshmallow and a piece of chocolate. When it’s all ooey-gooey, take your s’more out of the solar oven, then smush another graham cracker on top and enjoy!
2. Mini Pizzas: Use English muffins or small pita bread as the base, and add your favorite pizza toppings.
3. Nachos: Spread tortilla chips on a tray and sprinkle with cheese. Watch as the cheese melts then enjoy your nachos with some salsa.
4. Quesadillas: Fill a tortilla with cheese and your favorite fillings, then fold it in half and cook until the cheese melts.
5. Apple Slices with Cinnamon: Thinly slice apples and sprinkle them with cinnamon and a little sugar. Let them bake until they’re soft—we love serving these with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
6. Hot Dogs: Wrap hot dogs in foil and cook them in your solar oven. You could even put the buns in your solar oven to get them warm and toasty!
7. Baked Potatoes: Wrap small potatoes in foil and bake until they’re tender. Top with butter, cheese, or sour cream for a delicious side dish.
8. Vegetable Skewers: Skewer chunks of vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes. Brush with olive oil, season, then cook until tender. Okay, now I’m getting hungry…
9. Granola: Spread a mixture of oats, honey, nuts, and dried fruit on a baking sheet and let it toast in the solar oven for a crunchy snack.
10. Eggs: Cook some eggs sunny side-up! You could even make hard “boiled” eggs, though you might have to sacrifice an egg or two to figure out when they’re ready.

I hope you enjoyed making some delicious treats in your DIY solar oven!

Be sure to check out my Sun Science Family Unit Study—or the Nature’s Child Bundle—to keep that hand-on learning going!

https://shop.howweelearn.com/collections/family-unit-studies

I hope your week is off to a lovely start!

xo
Sarah