Saved by the Sun

Notes from our reviewers

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• Teaching Tips
  Given the nature and preparation of students, this activity can be a totally inquiry-driven investigation or the instructor can guide students toward a successful design. Schedule the activity for a time when the sun is fairly high in the sky, such as early fall or mid- to late spring, particularly if you are in a temperate climate above 35 degrees N latitude. Use of the associated NOVA video is not required/necessary for activity, but provides a wider context for solar energy.
• About the Science
  Students use a design prototyping and testing procedure to produce a solar oven capable of pasteurizing drinking water. Comments from expert scientist: Scientific strengths: This practical activity is a sound way to make students familiar with some tricky topics of radiative transfer, such as absorption, reflection, transmission, different parts of the electro-magnetic spectrum, and the role of the Sun as a source of energy.
• About the Pedagogy
  Uses a strong 7-step design process that models how engineers work. It is a hands-on, small-group, building activity that would be best done towards the end of a unit/lessons on solar energy. This activity meets the needs of the Connecticut Grade 9 Embedded Task for CAPT.
• Technical Details/Ease of Use
  The pictures and descriptions of sample solar cookers are helpful to guide teachers in their instruction and scaffolding of the project. A comprehensive list of necessary building materials is provided.