CA Standards--Third Grade
Materials
Start trying to collect shoeboxes for the entire class at least 2-3 weeks prior to the lesson. This could work if you had 2 kids with one oven but conflict may arise over ownership when the unit is completed. I used instructions from the No Doubt Learning site with some modifications.
- Shoeboxes with lid, aluminum foil (heavy duty and regular), plastic wrap
- Tape, stapler, scissors
- Black construction paper, newspaper
- Toothpicks, straight pin or push pin
Procedures
- Started by discussing why one would want to use the sun to cook.
- Good for the environment, readily available in many climates, keeps your house cool in the summer, doesn’t require fire/fuel, etc.
- Cut a 3-sided rectangle in the lid of the box. Some kids will punch a hole and then saw at the box with one side of their scissors; others have enough hand strength to cut the box. Leave a one to three inch margin on 3 sides of the rectangle. One edge of the rectangle should incorporate the crease in the top lid. This is your reflector flap. Students may cut directly through the rim or lip in the lid to make the rectangle. The cut in the lip can be repaired using staples.