Lesson Plan

Want S'mores? Observing the Effects of a Solar Oven

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

K

Overview

In this inquiry-based lesson, students will describe the effects sunlight has on s'mores using a solar oven.  Teacher will construct a solar oven for students to observe.  Students will observe and describe what happens to the chocolate and marshmallow over time.   

Science (2015) Grade(s): KG

SC15.K.7

Observe and describe the effects of sunlight on Earth’s surface (e.g., heat from the sun causing evaporation of water or increased temperature of soil, rocks, sand, and water).

Unpacked Content

UP:SC15.K.7

Vocabulary

  • Observe
  • Describe
  • Sunlight
  • Earth
  • Surface
  • Evaporation
  • Temperature

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Sunlight warms the Earth's surface.
  • Know different patterns of relative warmth of materials in sunlight and in shade (e.g., hotter, warmer, cooler, and colder)
  • Materials on the Earth's surface can be investigated (e.g., dirt, sand, water) and described.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Investigate the effects of sunlight on Earth's surface.
  • Observe the effects of sunlight on Earth's surface.
  • Describe the effects of sunlight on Earth's surface.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Sunlight causes an observable effect on the Earth's surfaces including: water, soil, rocks, sand, grass.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Planning and Carrying out Investigations

Crosscutting Concepts

Cause and Effect

Primary Learning Objectives

Students will be able to describe the effects of sunlight on Earth's surface by observing changes in the solar oven.

Procedures/Activities

1. Introduce background information about our Sun and its effects on Earth's surface.  For example, informational books, short video clips, or NASA's online book Our Very Own Star: the Sun.  

2. Place thermometer in solar oven before placing in the sun on a clear, sunny day to record beginning temperature. The solar oven will need to sit outside in the sun to preheat for approximately 30 minutes.

3. While the solar oven is preheating, have students construct s'mores with the graham cracker on the bottom, marshmallow in the center, and chocolate drop on top. 

4. Using the observation sheet, students will draw what the s'more looks like prior to placement in the solar oven.

5. Using background knowledge, have students predict what they think will happen to their s'more in the solar oven.

5. Teachers will remove the chocolate drop before carefully placing s'mores in the solar oven. 

6. Wait 30-60 minutes for the marshmallow to become squishy or melt before adding the chocolate drops to the top. 

7. Teachers will use the oven mitt to remove plastic and place the chocolate drops on the top of the marshmallow.

8. Observe and wait another 5-10 minutes for the chocolate drop to melt.

9. Teachers will use the spatula to remove s'more and place on plates. Students will use another graham cracker to complete the s'more. Teachers will also need to observe the temperature on the thermometer and share with students.

10. Students will use observation sheet to draw a picture of the s'more after activity.

11. Teachers and students will discuss the effects of sunlight on the solar oven and s'more on the Earth's surface.


1. Introduce background information about our Sun and its effects on Earth's surface.  For example, informational books, short video clips, or NASA's online book Our Very Own Star: the Sun.  

2. Place thermometer in solar oven before placing in the sun on a clear, sunny day to record beginning temperature. The solar oven will need to sit outside in the sun to preheat for approximately 30 minutes.

3. While the solar oven is preheating, have students construct s'mores with the graham cracker on the bottom, marshmallow in the center, and chocolate drop on top. 

4. Using the observation sheet, students will draw what the s'more looks like prior to placement in the solar oven.

5. Using background knowledge, have students predict what they think will happen to their s'more in the solar oven.

5. Teachers will remove the chocolate drop before carefully placing s'mores in the solar oven. 

6. Wait 30-60 minutes for the marshmallow to become squishy or melt before adding the chocolate drops to the top. 

7. Teachers will use the oven mitt to remove plastic and place the chocolate drops on the top of the marshmallow.

8. Observe and wait another 5-10 minutes for the chocolate drop to melt.

9. Teachers will use the spatula to remove s'more and place on plates. Students will use another graham cracker to complete the s'more. Teachers will also need to observe the temperature on the thermometer and share with students.

10. Students will use observation sheet to draw a picture of the s'more after activity.

11. Teachers and students will discuss the effects of sunlight on the solar oven and s'more on the Earth's surface.

Assessment Strategies

Using the observation sheet, have students brainstorm and respond to the final question, "What else would you like to put in your solar oven?" Make connections to foods that can be melted or changed in other ways when heat is added. (Examples: butter, rolls, etc.)

Acceleration

  • Place a black sheet of construction paper on the bottom one solar oven and a white sheet of construction paper on another. Compare results.
  • Try using the solar oven with a 100 watt light bulb in the classroom. Compare results.
  • Teachers and students can compare temperatures on thermometer before, during, and at the end of the activity.
  • Have students write a sentence to describe the results of the solar oven.

Intervention

Teachers and students can orally discuss observations and results instead of using the observation sheet.

Approximate Duration

Total Duration

91 to 120 Minutes

Background and Preparation

Background/Preparation

A version of this lesson plan can be found at http://climatekids.nasa.gov/smores/. Step by step directions for how to build the solar oven are included with pictures. Note that the s'mores for this activity need to be made using the graham cracker on the bottom, the marshmallow in the center, and the chocolate drop on the top due to the fact that the marshmallow will take longer to melt in the solar oven than the chocolate drop.  The chocolate drop will be added to the top after the marshmallow has been in the oven for 20 minutes. Depending on the number of students and whether or not you would like each student to have a s'more, vary the number of solar ovens used in the activity.

Materials and Resources

Materials and Resources

Thermometer or temperature gun

1 solar oven 

graham crackers

milk chocolate drops

large marshmallows

observation sheet

oven mitt

spatula

Technology Resources Needed

http://climatekids.nasa.gov/smores/

Approved Date

2016-01-13

Owner2

kthomas385
ALSDE LOGO

This site may contain links to other websites or content belonging to or originating from third parties or links to websites and features in banners or other advertising. Such external links are not investigated, monitored, or checked for accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness by us. WE DO NOT WARRANT, ENDORSE, GUARANTEE, OR ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY INFORMATION OFFERED BY THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES LINKED THROUGH THIS SITE.
Alabama Learning Exchange © 2002-2023 by Alabama State Department of Education is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Design by Adaptive Theme