
Want to Build Your Own Solar Cooker!?
By Brooke Gilmour
Join Hearthmakers at The Princess Promenade on Saturday, August 2nd, 2014. We’ll be running two workshops to teach kids how to build their own solar cooker! Get there early to register for one of the workshops. If you can’t make it, here’s how you can do it on your own!
You can use a solar cooker to harness the power of the sun to cook s’mores, hot dogs, and simple cookies! Building a pizza box solar cooker is easy, fun, and eco-friendly; it’s the perfect summer craft for kids. And you probably already have most of the materials you need around the house.
Materials:
Ruler
Empty Pizza Box
Plastic Wrap
Black Construction Paper
Aluminum Foil
Tape and white glue
Scissors or Box Cutters
Pencils or Straws (to prop cooker open)
By Brooke Gilmour
Join Hearthmakers at The Princess Promenade on Saturday, August 2nd, 2014. We’ll be running two workshops to teach kids how to build their own solar cooker! Get there early to register for one of the workshops. If you can’t make it, here’s how you can do it on your own!
You can use a solar cooker to harness the power of the sun to cook s’mores, hot dogs, and simple cookies! Building a pizza box solar cooker is easy, fun, and eco-friendly; it’s the perfect summer craft for kids. And you probably already have most of the materials you need around the house.
Materials:
Ruler
Empty Pizza Box
Plastic Wrap
Black Construction Paper
Aluminum Foil
Tape and white glue
Scissors or Box Cutters
Pencils or Straws (to prop cooker open)

Step by Step Picture Instructions:
Courtesy of http://old.solar-aid.org/
Step 1
Use the ruler to measure a frame (~1-2 inches) around the top of the pizza box.
Step 2
Take scissors or a box cutter and cut three sides of the frame, so it opens.
Step 3
Cover the underside of the flap you just cut with aluminum foil.
Step 4
Line the inside of the pizza box with black construction paper.
Step 5
Cover the empty frame of the pizza box with plastic wrap so it’s like a window.
Step 6 & Step 7
Close the box. Add newspaper around the outside for additional insulation (optional).
Step 8
Use a pencil or plastic straw to prop open the foil lid.
Now, you’re ready to start cooking! Solar power is a wonderful way to cook food because it doesn’t burn fossil fuels, draw on biomass resources, and it’s fun and safe for kids!