Pizza Box Solar Oven- Science Project

Solar cooking is an ancient art that can be demonstrated using simple items readily available today. One way of utilizing solar cooking is to use a large pizza box. All you need are simple items such as black construction paper, scissors, a straw, aluminum foil, plastic laminate, a glue stick, tape, a ruler, oven thermometer, and a permanent marker.

Box construction begins with cutting aluminum foil to cover the inside of the box lid. Use a glue stick to attach the aluminum foil to the box lid. If glue does not work then you can use staples to attach it. Cut another section of aluminum foil to cover the inside bottom of the box and glue to the inside bottom. Next, glue black construction paper to cover the aluminum foil on the inside bottom of the box. You will have measured the inside of the box so that the black construction paper fits perfectly.

Measure and cut a piece of plastic laminate to fit over the box opening, slightly oversize so as to trap air inside the box.

The box is now done and ready to use. You can position the box so that the sun's rays hit the inside of the box while using the straw to prop the top open.There are a wide variety of activities that can be done with the box. One activity is to see how long it takes ice cubes to melt in a saucer inside the box as opposed to ice cubes in another saucer outside the box. Another activity is to remove chocolate bars from their wrapper and place inside the box (on some saran wrap for easy cleanup) and compare the melting process with another chocolate bar placed outside the box.

Participants can record their observations in a journal, or make comparative charts to be presented after the project is finished.

It may take a while to make some food heat up, but it is a great activity to learn about reflective heat and solar heat.