Make a S’mores Oven

Build a solar powered marshmallow melting machine

Materials

• 1 pizza box

•  Aluminum foil

• Clear page protectors (or plastic wrap)

• Clear tape

• Black construction paper

Directions

1. Cut a flip in the lid of the pizza box, leaving about an inch border around the edge.

2. Cover the lid with aluminum foil (with the shiny part facing you). Then line the bottom of the box with foil.

3. Glue the black construction paper over the foil on the bottom.

4. Inside the lid, use clear tape to seal the page protectors or plastic wrap over the opening. This will create a barrier so that the hot air can’t escape, creating a “greenhouse” effect and heating your make-shift oven.

5. Take your oven outside, and set up your graham crackers. Place a piece of chocolate on one side and a marshmallow on the other. Don’t stack.

6. Angle the foil flap to reflect directly into the box. Then wait for the melting to begin.

7. Once the chocolate has melted and the marshmallows look soft, bring the two pieces together and eat.

How it Works
The reflective aluminum foil captures sunlight and projects it onto the black construction paper, which retains the heat. As the heat collects, it warms up the air inside the box, creating a nice hot box (aka the “greenhouse effect”) in the sealed oven.

adapted from RedTri