Using Solar Energy:
The Solar Apple Baker
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:
- Solar energy is the energy given off by the sun.
- Solar energy can be harnessed and used for
many different things.
Principles:
- Baking is the process of cooking and drying.
- Baking or cooking food involves a process of adding energy to it.
- Food changes in texture, size and taste when it is baked or cooked.
Facts:
- Solar energy is often called radiant energy.
- Solar energy is produced by nuclear fusion reactions on the sun.
- Solar energy does not pollute.
Skills:
- Following Directions
- Understanding Cause-and-Effect Relationships
- Making Inferences
Materials
Each student will need:
- Two paper cups - 1 large, one smaller
- 12" X 18" black paper
- Aluminum foil
- Tape
- Food Wrap
- Newspaper
- Scissors
- Pre-cut Apple Slices or
- Apples and Knife or Apple Slicer
- 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
- What is solar energy?
Lead discussion to how solar energy can be trapped and used for practical
purposes.
- What are some different ways to use solar energy?
Identify heating homes, heating water, power for solar cars, and
electricity.
- Today, we will build a solar apple baker to bake apple slices.
Activity
- Pass out handout
with illustration and directions for solar apple bakers.
- Students construct their own solar apple baker, slice apples, and wrap
and place slices in apple bakers.
- Have students put bakers in a spot with lots of sunlight exposure.
- 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
- See one young man's experimentation with solar cookers for a science
fair project!
- Try baking other fruit slices.
- 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?
- 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.
- 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.
- Solar Cooking Archive
- Great Information on many solar cooker models, recipes, and fun facts.
Careers Related to the Lesson Topic
- Chemical Engineers
- Tour,
University of Michigan Chemical Engineering
- Electrical Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Environmentalist
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Cooling Fields
- Tours,
Washtenaw Community College
- Nuclear Engineers
- Powerplant Engineers
- Sanitation Superintendent
- Tour,
City of Pontiac Collier Road Landfill
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.
Last amended 11 Dec 2001