Sunshine and science: Prospect fifth graders cook up learning with solar ovens

Fifth graders at Prospect Elementary are proving that the sun can do more than brighten your day—it can bake your snacks, too!

As part of their solar studies in the Sustainable Energy Academy, students spent the week designing and testing their very own solar ovens. Using recycled pizza boxes, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and a little creativity, teams of students built ovens that harness the power of the sun to heat tasty treats.

“It’s a fun and hands-on way to see how solar energy converts into usable power,” said Sustainable Academy teacher Brynn Purcell. “Last week, students learned about how solar power works, and this week they put that knowledge to the test with their own ovens. It’s exciting to watch them make those real-world connections.”

Fifth grader Kailani Marshfield said her favorite part was learning how the materials actually work. “I didn’t know that tin foil was such a great insulator,” she said. “It reflects the sunlight, and that helps the heat cook the food. I thought that was really cool.”

Her classmate Aubree Tyson enjoyed the experimentation involved in the project.

“We had to figure out the best way to place the tin foil so the sun could heat our oven,” Aubrey said. “It was fun working together to get it just right—and, of course, the best part was eating the s’mores we made.”

Emma Yannett highlighted the joy of creating and experimenting.

“I love making homemade stuff and putting pieces together to create something new,” she said. “I didn’t know that tin foil could reflect so much heat, and now I understand how all the pieces work together.”

The project started with a simple question: What can I do with the sun’s power? From there, students explored the science behind reflection, insulation, and absorption—key concepts that enable solar ovens to function effectively. After gathering materials (including a generous donation of 37 pizza boxes from Pizza Hut), students worked in pairs or small groups to design, test, and adjust their ovens before putting them to the ultimate challenge: heating a snack.

When the weather didn’t cooperate, Purcell improvised. “We pivoted and used heat lamps indoors,” she said with a laugh. “It still gave students a chance to see how their designs worked and compare which ones trapped the most heat.”

This solar oven challenge is just one part of a larger sustainability unit at Prospect Elementary. Each grade level is exploring different concepts related to the sun. Kindergarten through third grade are studying its impact on Earth, while fourth grade is creating solar posters. Fifth graders are diving into applied projects such as solar ovens.

After testing their ovens, students reflected on what worked well and what could be improved. Some noted that the pencil holding the oven flap in place worked perfectly, while others pointed out that the plastic wrap helped trap the heat inside. They also shared new ideas for next time, such as using mini marshmallows, layering the chocolate differently, or adjusting the arrangement of the ingredients. The discussion ended with a variety of perspectives on what made their ovens successful and what could be done differently in the future.

“I love having all of our third through fifth graders learning about solar right now,” said Purcell. “They’re all doing something different, and it’s fantastic to see them explore, experiment, and put their ideas into action.”

Whether they’re experimenting with foil placement, testing their designs, or tasting the results, Prospect’s young scientists are learning an important lesson: with creativity, collaboration, and sunlight, sustainability starts right where they are.