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Using Solar Energy:
The Solar Apple Baker

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This lesson developed by Reach Out!

Recommended Age: Later Elementary


Guiding Question

How can we harness the sun's energy to bake food?


Objectives

Concepts:

Principles:

Facts:

Skills:

Materials

Each student will need:

  1. Two paper cups - 1 large, one smaller
  2. 12" X 18" black paper
  3. Aluminum foil
  4. Tape
  5. Food Wrap
  6. Newspaper
  7. Scissors
  8. Pre-cut Apple Slices or
  9. Apples and Knife or Apple Slicer
  10. Handout with construction directions

Room Preparation

Students need table space and elbow room to construct their apple bakers.

Safety Precautions

Use care when handling scissors, knives, or apple slicers.


Procedures and Activity

Introduction

  1. What is solar energy?
    Lead discussion to how solar energy can be trapped and used for practical purposes.
  2. What are some different ways to use solar energy?
    Identify heating homes, heating water, power for solar cars, and electricity.
  3. Today, we will build a solar apple baker to bake apple slices.

Activity

  1. Pass out handout with illustration and directions for solar apple bakers.
  2. Students construct their own solar apple baker, slice apples, and wrap and place slices in apple bakers.
  3. Have students put bakers in a spot with lots of sunlight exposure.
  4. Students observe, smell, and taste apple slices daily. They may take out apple slices whenever they are cooked to suit them.

Closing - Original Question

Ask again,

"How can we harness the sun's energy to bake food?"


Evaluation

Let students share how they made their solar apple bakers, how the bakers harnessed solar energy, and how solar energy baked their apples. Listen to see evidence that they understand concept of solar energy and the principles of baking with their bakers. Students may illustrate and demonstrate making a solar apple baker with other students.


Extension Ideas

  1. See one young man's experimentation with solar cookers for a science fair project!
  2. Try baking other fruit slices.
  3. Try using red instead of black paper for the cone. In which color cone did the apple slices bake faster? Why? Which apple baker got hotter? Why?
  4. Students may research an application of solar energy such as solar heating panels, solar cars, or solar ovens. Check out information about the University of Michigan's Solar Car Team. Or, try the Reach Out! activity on Materials that absorb solar energy. Build a pizza box oven or a more complex solar oven. Have students share their findings and projects with each other.
  5. Explore people in the community who use solar energy or are developing and selling products that use solar energy. Invite them to come and share their interests, studies, and knowledge.
  6. Solar Cooking Archive - Great Information on many solar cooker models, recipes, and fun facts.

Careers Related to the Lesson Topic


Prerequisite Vocabulary

Energy
Resources that produce power.
Radiant
Reflecting light waves which often produce heat.
Radiant Energy
Energy from the motion and reflection of light waves.
Solar
Having to do with the sun.
Solar Energy
Light or heat produced by sun's rays.

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Last amended 11 Dec 2001