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The Insulation Innovation Project

A 6th Grade STEM Lesson

Solar engineers, using science and math to turn a simple pizza box into a functional, heat-trapping oven. You'll use your knowledge of energy transfer and the Engineering Design Process to capture radiant energy and convert it into the thermal energy needed to cook a tasty treat.

Jessica Pitts

The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

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Notes for teachers

This lesson takes place in a classroom for an hour.
Students may work with a partner.
An emphasis on the target product-

solar energy !

Creative solutions should be encouraged with students.
Facilitate student reflection on a cost-effective solar oven using recycled materials to achieve the maximum temperature required to safely cook a s'more using only the radiant energy of the sun.

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List of Materials

Base: One pizza box (or any cardboard box with a hinged lid) per group.
Reflector: Aluminum foil and tape.
Absorber: Black construction paper or black paint.
Insulation: Newspaper, cotton, or bubble wrap.
Window: Plastic wrap or a clear sheet protector.
Measurement: Thermometer (digital or analog) and a stopwatch.
Food: S'mores ingredients (marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers) to test success!
Pencil, Paper, Tape, duct tape
Sunlight and warm outside temperatures( about 75 degrees)
S’mores ingredients : graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate

Design Optimization: The design challenge involves maximizing two key factors:

Concentration: Designing a reflector flap (made of foil) at the optimal angle to direct the maximum amount of sunlight into the box.
Retention: Designing an insulating layer (around the sides and bottom) to keep the heat inside.

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Arizona Science Standards

Science Standards:

6.E1U1.6

Investigate and construct an explanation demonstrating that radiation from the Sun provides energy and is absorbed to warm the Earth's surface and atmosphere.

Radiant Energy and Absorption: Students explore the transfer of solar energy and its absorption as heat (thermal energy).

Science and Engineering Practices

Ask questions and define problems
Develop and use models Plan and carry out investigations
Analyze and interpret data
Use mathematics and computational thinking
Construct explanations and design solutions
Engage in argument from evidence
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information

Arizona ELA Standards

6.W.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

6.L.3 Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening. a. Vary sentence patterns for meaning, reader/listener interest, and style. b. Maintain consistent style and tone.

6.SL.6 Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.

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Objectives:

Today we will describe the type of energy used from a pizza box design from details from the reading.

Today we will collaborate and communicate effectively with our peers to communicate.

Today students will be able to design and engineer a thermal energy from the sun.

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Agenda (60 mins)

What do you know about solar energy?
Research how the Sun makes an impact on thermal energy transferred to one single source ?
How can this help you with your design?
Defining a type of energy

Design a energy source to capture radiant energy and convert it into the thermal energy
Share or present

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Science Concepts

Energy Transfer (Thermal Energy): Students will learn about the three methods of heat transfer:

Radiation: How the sun's energy (radiant energy) travels through space and is absorbed by the oven.
Conduction: How heat is transferred through direct contact (e.g., from the dark surface to the air inside the box).
Convection: How heat moves through the air inside the oven, circulating to warm the food.

Insulation and Absorption: Students will experiment with materials (like aluminum foil, newspaper, and black paint) to understand which materials absorb the most radiant energy and which materials provide the best insulation to prevent thermal energy loss.
Energy Conversion: The project demonstrates the conversion of radiant energy (light) into thermal energy (heat).

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Math Concepts

Measurement: Students will use thermometers to take precise temperature readings inside the oven every 5-10 minutes.
Data Collection and Analysis: They will create a data table to record the time and corresponding temperature (e.g., Time in minutes vs. Temperature in degrees Celsius/Fahrenheit).

Graphing: Students will plot their temperature data over time on a coordinate plane to visualize the rate of heat gain in their oven, comparing it to a control or other groups' designs.
Optimization: They will calculate the rate of temperature change over specific intervals to determine the oven's efficiency.

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Engineering Concepts

Engineering Design Process: Students must follow the process: Define the problem (how to reach the highest temperature), Brainstorm (materials and design ideas), Build a prototype, Test (measure temperature), and Improve (redesign based on the temperature data).
Material Selection: Students must strategically choose materials (e.g., aluminum foil for reflection, black construction paper for absorption, newspaper for insulation) to optimize the oven's performance.

Design Optimization: The design challenge involves maximizing two key factors:

Concentration: Designing a reflector flap (made of foil) at the optimal angle to direct the maximum amount of sunlight into the box.
Retention: Designing an insulating layer (around the sides and bottom) to keep the heat inside.

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Intro/Driving Question/Opening

Driving Question

How can we, as engineers, design and optimize a cost-effective solar oven using recycled materials to achieve the maximum temperature required to safely cook a s'more using only the radiant energy of the sun?

Opening Statement

"Welcome to the Solar Oven Challenge! Your mission is to design, build, and test a solar oven prototype using a pizza box. We'll be using the power of the sun to explore how energy changes form and moves through materials. Every decision you make—from the angle of your reflector to the type of insulation you choose—will affect your oven's performance. The final test? Successfully melting chocolate and warming a marshmallow! Get ready to measure, analyze, and innovate!"

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

In a group of 2, create your design form a pizza box. Use materials that are given during class.

Constraints:

20 minutes
Pizza box and Materials used

YouTube Video for an example of the project:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhgNh3BdMsc

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Assessment

We test our solar energy structure model
We receive feedback
We iterate and repeat

We evaluate our final iteration ability to meet requirements and stay within constraints.

Summative assessment: students write about transfer of energy from solar to thermal energy.

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Differentiation

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Have students purposefully placed in groups to help one another.

Check in with students as they are engineering.
Offer choices on the final assessment. If you plan to have students write, allow them other choices to show their learning as well if you are assessing science/engineering standards and not writing skills.

Challenge students who finish early to research another interesting solar energy project and engineer it to present to the class.