Other
Designing Solar Ovens
Upper Elementary
Energy
Earth and Human Activity
In Classrooms
Students learn about thermal energy transfer, collect data about insulation, and then engineer solar ovens.
unit Overview
Students use the Engineering Design Process to design a solar oven that maintains a hot temperature while using environmentally friendly materials. They test whether materials are good insulators or conductors of thermal energy, and consider the arrangement of materials in their solar ovens.
- 5 lessons (11–12 class sessions)
Standards Alignment
We’ve developed each EiE unit with careful attention to educational standards in both science and technology/engineering.
unit Resources
Digital Resources (FREE)
YES provides these materials free of charge! Use the link below to download resources from our Google Drive.
Download ResourcesPurchase Materials
Educator Guide Pack -
$69
- Full-color print educator guide, plus multiple sets of heavy-duty reusable color-print resources (ex. vocabulary cards, materials glossaries, station signs, and student instructions) for the class.
Materials Kit -
$349
- Hands-on materials to support 30 learners.
Unit Map
Students are introduced to the concepts of engineering and technology. (30–40 min.)
The class reads a storybook in which a girl named Lerato living in Botswana explores the field of Green Engineering in order to build a solar oven to cook food for her family. (90–120 min., 2–3 sessions)
Students use a life cycle assessment to trace the path of a material from creation to disposal. (55–65 min.)
Students investigate how quickly different materials transfer heat energy and assess the environmental impact of each material. (175–190 min., 3 sessions)
Students follow the steps of the Engineering Design Process to imagine, plan, create, test, and then improve their own solar oven designs. (165–180 min., 3 sessions)
Teacher Preparation Videos
View the full unit playlist on YouTube
How to Create a Solar Oven
How to Create a Control Testing Cup
How to Prepare the Testing Basin & Ice Bath
How to Create the Materials Cups for Testing
