lunch. That’s right, lunch. Dennis’ 4H club is beginning a project on solar power. At one of the club meetings, the leader brought a solar oven that one of her teens had made. The kids all made s’mores, put them in the oven, and we set the oven outside while they held the rest of the meeting. Eventually the kids will make solar cars and race them, but solar ovens are a good introduction to solar power. After the meeting, each club member was then supposed to make his or her own solar oven at home. Dennis made a pizza box oven. Part of the fun of a pizza box oven is that you have to have a pizza night in order to get the box.
We started out with the basic plan, using plexiglass instead of plastic laminate. Yes, that’s a piece of Hot Wheels track holding it open.
We checked the temperature with an oven thermometer and noted that it reached a respectable 150 degrees.
Now we can’t just use the basic model — we have to kick it up a notch. Actually, we read in a library book that adding an extra panel is a good idea if you want to make more than s’mores.
Dennis made us each an English muffin pizza. We “preheated” the oven, then put our pizzas in. Now it’s time for the sun to work its magic.
After about 20 minutes, we enjoyed our solar cooked lunch.
by Robin, on December 5 2006 @ 10:45 am
How cool!!
This is a project I’d love to borrow, but I’m going to have to wait until Virginia weather is a little more cooperative. Thanks for the inspiration!
by Hallie, on December 6 2006 @ 8:20 pm
I have always wanted to make one of these! You have inspired me. This will be our next project. Great Pictures!
by Frankie Straight, on December 7 2006 @ 12:42 am
Wow, great project! I had to show Thomas your blog entry and I clicked on the photo off bloglines and it took me to your flickr account instead of your blog. We looked at all the photos. Cute son, cute dog, cute cat. =) Thomas oohed and awed that lego/train table.
We’ll have to try this solar cooking in the spring. I don’t know if it would work in the cold Minnesota weather now.
by notsoevlhmschlmom, on December 10 2006 @ 9:55 pm
Oh that is so totally cool! I will definately have to put that on my list of things to do this coming summer.
by Ave, on December 14 2006 @ 2:23 pm
Holy cow! I will have to try this one out. Very cool.
by Jane, on January 14 2007 @ 1:32 pm
This will be great for Arkansas summers. Last summer a bunch of kids here put chocolate chip cookies on the dash boards of their cars! Instant cookies!
J
by Janet, on January 28 2007 @ 1:32 pm
This is way cool! Brody is very impressed and wants to make one. Janet