Teaching Tips

• A great way of introducing solutions while exploring the science of the first Climate Literacy Principle: The Sun is the primary source of energy for Earth's climate system: http://cleanet.org/clean/literacy/index.html.
• A discussion about renewable energies and the use of solar in different part of the world will be a logical follow-up to this activity.
• Use an overhead projector to trace out the pattern provided.
• Create reading guide for passage provided.
• Have students carry out modifications to provided design and challenge them to optimize their cookers.

About the Content

• Reading passage explains the basics of a solar cooker and goes into detail about how they can be used by people all over the world - including developing countries and the military.
• This description of a solar oven stresses the concept of reflectivity and absorption. However the term albedo is not introduced.
• Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.

About the Pedagogy

• Provides instructions for building a simple solar cooker, but the teacher will have to provide context for the activity and use of the cooker.
• Also investigate other solar oven designs: http://solarcooking.org/plans/
• The more sophisticated and durable, the more likely the cookers will actually be used more than once.
• Engaging to build a solar oven and very instructive to see how well they work.
• Students of different learning types will be engaged in this activity.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

• No picture is included of a final oven. It will be helpful to see a model version of the oven that is to be built.

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