Rational:

The idea of using a solar oven was brought to us by our environmental catalyst teacher, Tim Haughian, and by Craig Shearer of Solar Freedom International ( http://solarcooking.org/directory.asp. ).

Sustainability Objectives:

To promote the use and idea of Solar Energy. To choose an apparatus that is easy to move, setup and use.

To illustrate how an unconventional appliance could and should operate as the status quo.

Instruction Objectives:

Students can design, build and operate their own solar oven.
Experience operating a new and different technology
Problem solving

Materials:

1 or 2 commercial solar ovens. We purchased ours from Boundless Energies in Red Deer Alberta. http://solarcooking.org/manufacture.htm

Our school board also owns one which is available to all schools.

books on making homemade solar ovens from cardboard, mylar liners of chip bags, etc.
Solar oven log book (sheets designed by grade 8 students)
Sign-out sheet for community
Owen mitts!

Procedures / Outline of Activities:

1) Use of the Commercial Oven

This is an activity designed for success as long as it is not a cloudy day. Adults are always skeptical at claims of reaching 300-400 degrees with the oven. But this really is the case! We found young people simply accepted the claims and the idea much more readily than the adults.

To simplify instruction here, basically anything that can be cooked in a regular oven can be cooked in a commercial solve oven. This has included roast, chickens, cookies, bread, cakes-desserts, etc.

When using the commercial solar oven the teacher could divide the class up into groups of 3 or 4. These groups would provide their own recipe/food and be given ½ hour to 1 hour with the ovens. This would involve some disruption, as you would not have the full representation of your class at all times. The other option is to take on a large meal (like a roast) as a whole class and give students a turn in rotating the oven. The oven must be moved slightly, every 20 minutes so as to face the sun at max potential.

2) Design and build solar ovens from scrap materials. This is much easier than it sounds. With minimal background (see resource-Solar Flame) students can build a successful homemade solar oven from cardboard, mylar from chip bags and scrap glass or plastic.

Children are very creative and agreeable to this process. Once again, it’s the adult who doubts the success rate. It is a good idea however to choose something like hot dogs, cookies or prepared pizza treats for the homemade apparatus so as to facilitate a high rate of success.

This fits in well with a unit in Science, Practical Arts (cooking) or Language Arts.

Community Involvement / Parent Roles:

A commercial oven could be purchased and shared by various schools or communities.

We created a Solar Oven Log Book that included recipe sheets (see Solar Oven Log Sheet). When classes or members of the community used the solar oven, they were asked to fill out the sheet. This really helped the next person or teachers who were reluctant to try it.

We were lucky enough at Sister O’Brien to have our solar oven project promoted by a parent, Mrs. Rita Lalonde. She made a huge commitment to this by creating (with the help of other parents) a solar lunch for every class. She found that it was hard to do a ham by lunch and to count on a sunny day so she changed her plan the second year to a healthy solar treat at the p.m. recess.

Rita’s role has been pivotal in the success of our solar oven program. She manages it and coordinates the snack for Earth Day, Play Day or any other school activity.

Many parents are lining up to help out. We call them endearingly our “SOLAR MOMS”.

Outcomes / Achievements:

An open mind to an alternative energy source
Many successful meals and snacks
People are buying / building solar apparatus for their yards or cabins

Pitfalls / Problems to Anticipate:

Cloudy days
Recipes that are not baked but fried. Remember this is an oven, not a grill. (Pancakes were gross!)

Cultural Ramifications:

We have found that the awareness in our community has been heightened by simply having the ovens cooking out on the front lawn of the school when in use. Passers by will often comment on the unusual looking apparatus. Now we have a large sign “Solar Oven” beside the oven whenever it is in use. Seeing it out there has become the norm.

Resources:

Craig Shearer of Solar Freedom International: http://solarcooking.org/directory.asp

Boundless Energies in Red Deer Alberta: http://solarcooking.org/manufacture.htm

Many websites offer information and solar oven designs. Here is one:

http://journeytoforever.org/sc_link.html

“Cooking with the Sun: How to Build and Use Solar Cookers" by Beth & Dan Halacy, 115 pages, Morning Sun Press, 1992.

“Heaven's Flame: A Guide to Solar Cookers” by Joseph M. Radabaugh, Paperback: 143 pages, Home Power Publishing, 1998.