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.
