Lesson summary

Students cook food using a solar oven made from an old pizza box. The solar oven can be made prior to this activity or you can work as a class to construct it. Students can also participate in the cooking and eating of the food cooked in the oven.

Learning intentions:

Students will...

recognise some of the ways that we use electricity
understand that we can use the energy from the sun for light, warmth and cooking.

Lesson guides and printables

Lesson details

Australian curriculum content descriptions:

Foundation Science:

Science involves exploring and observing the world using the senses (ACSHE013)

Year 1 Science:

Everyday materials can be physically changed in a variety of ways (ACSSU018)
Observable changes occur in the sky and landscape (ACSSU019)
People use science in their daily lives, including when caring for their environment and living things (ACSHE022)

Year 2 Science:

Science involves asking questions about, and describing changes in, objects and events (ACSHE034)

Foundation and Years 1 & 2 Design and Technologies:

Use materials, components, tools, equipment and techniques to safely make designed solutions (ACTDEP007)

Extension – Foundation and Years 1 & 2 Design and Technologies:

Use personal preferences to evaluate the success of design ideas, processes and solutions including their care for environment (ACTDEP008)

Syllabus outcomes: STe-4WS, ST1-4WS, ST1-8ES, ST1-9ES, ST1-12MW, ST1-13MW

Time required: 60 mins+. This activity can be extended over several sessions. If you make the solar oven prior to the activity you will only need one session for cooking; however, if you choose to make the solar oven with students you will need one session for making the oven and one session for cooking and eating.

Level of teacher scaffolding: High – oversee activity and make solar oven

Renewable Energy Flaschards
How to make a solar oven instruction sheet
Pizza box (used or new)
Aluminium foil
Black construction paper
Plastic sandwich wrap
Glue and sticky tape
Scissors
Pen
Food for cooking in oven e.g. cheese on toast or English muffins, marshmallows and chocolate, cheesy nachos

This lesson has been developed in partnership with
Hydro Tasmania.

Hydro Tasmania has been at the forefront of clean energy innovation for one hundred years. It is Australia’s largest producer of clean energy – generating hydro and wind power – and the largest water manager. Hydro Tasmania has 55 major dams, operates 30 hydropower stations and has built some of Australia’s largest wind farms.

Hydro Tasmania also sells energy in the National Electricity Market through its retail business Momentum Energy, and sells its expertise internationally through its consulting business Entura.

Visit the Hydro Tasmania website to learn how the business is working towards Australia’s clean energy future.

Hydro Tasmania - Make a Solar Oven

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Learning intentions:

Students will...

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Lesson Details

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