Summer STEM Challenge Solar Oven Smores - Solar Energy Activity

In this summer STEM challenge students learn about solar energy as they design and build a solar oven to cook their own smores! This thermal energy project is cross-curricular with activities that incorporate science, reading, writing, math and creativity!

Click the green PREVIEW button to see what is included in this fun activity!

In this activity students will work through the engineering design process, utilize teamwork, communication, creative thinking and problem solving skills.

Students will learn about:

• solar energy
• heat energy
• heat absorption
• heat retention
• light energy
• light absorption
• thermal energy transfer

Included in this resource:

• Teacher directions, hints and suggestions
• Suggested supply list
• Daily activity schedule/outlines
• Student design brief
• Student STEM Challenge Journal using the Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, and Share format
• Line graph and double line graph extension activity
• Supply list with prices (you can have students work within a budget)
• Supply order form for students to "order" supplies to create their oven with
• Expense log
• 3 different reading passages related to solar energy and solar ovens

How Does a Solar Oven Work?

Solar Energy and Color

Concentration, Absorption, and Retention

• 3 different "View It" photo cards showing real life solar ovens - solar cookers
• Mind Map
• Scoring rubric
• Photos of real student made solar ovens cooking S'mores

***pages with measurements are provided in customary units (inches, degrees Fahrenheit) and metric units (centimeters, degrees Celsius)

Teachers Like You Are Saying:

⭐️ My students loved creating their solar ovens and they really enjoyed the real-life connections that were made using this resource.

⭐️ One of the best projects we did in science. In fact, we did it twice (as per my students' request haha).

⭐️ Really thorough and great cross-curricular project! This project touches on science, reading comprehension, writing, and math.

⭐️ Perfect for my heat transfer and engineering standards. My kids loved this project! Thanks!

This solar energy STEM project is a great way to keep kids engaged in learning, especially towards the end of the year once it starts getting warmer outside! This makes a great project for Earth Day!

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Thanks!

- Dawn