How to Build a Solar Oven from a Pizza Box

SciShow Kids

In this engaging episode of SciShow Kids, host Anthony and his robot friend Squeaks explore how to harness the power of the sun to cook food by building a solar oven. The video guides viewers through the engineering design process, identifying problems and finding solutions using common household materials like a pizza box, aluminum foil, and plastic wrap. It simplifies complex physics concepts by demonstrating how different materials interact with heat and light to create a functional oven. The video covers key scientific themes including solar energy, insulation, reflection, and absorption. Anthony explains how tin foil acts as an insulator to trap heat and a reflector to bounce sunlight, while plastic wrap serves as a window to let light in without letting heat escape. The lesson also touches on thermodynamics by demonstrating why dark colors are better for cooking than light colors, providing a comprehensive look at heat transfer suitable for young learners. This resource is highly valuable for STEM instruction as it combines physical science concepts with a practical, hands-on engineering project. Teachers can use this video to introduce renewable energy, the properties of light and heat, or the engineering design cycle. It serves as a perfect launchpad for a class project where students build their own ovens, test different variables, and enjoy the 'fruits' of their labor—like solar-cooked s'mores or pizza bagels.