LESSON PLAN OUTLINE

JMU Elementary Education Program

Kelsey Mercadante
Mrs. Lowery, Paul Munro Elementary School, 1st Grade
Date: Tues. September 22nd, 2015. Time: 1:40-2:05

A. TITLE OF LESSON: How can we use the heat from the sun?
B. CONTEXT OF LESSON
During this lesson, students will learn how the sun can be used to cook food (solar cooking).
Students will learn that solar cooing is non-polluting and requires no other fuel than sunlight.
C. UNWRAPPING THE VIRGINIA STANDARDS OF LEARNING
1. Grade Level and Content Area:
First Grade: Science
2. Standard and Indicators:
SOL 1.6 The student will investigate and understand the basic relationships
between the sun and Earth. Key concepts include
a) the sun is the source of energy and light that warms the land, air, and
water; and

Blooms Taxonomy
Levels:
Apply
D. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Understand

Know

Do

U1: The sun provides energy,

which warms the land, air, and
water on Earth.

K1: The sun can be used for

cooking food.
K2: Solar cooking is nonpolluting and requires no
other fuel than sunlight.

D1: Demonstrate how heat

from the sun can be used.
D2: Retell what steps were
taken and what happens in an
experiment.

E. ASSESSING LEARNING
I will assess students by observation. Students will participate in the solar cooking activity
and the discussion that will go along with it.
F. MATERIALS NEEDED

1.
2.
3.
4.

Smart board
Pizza box solar oven
Food items to cook
Sun tea directions to send home with students

G. PROCEDURE
Prep:
Collect supplies/materials
Construct pizza box solar oven to cook snacks
Gather: pizza box, black construction paper, aluminum foil, heavy clear plastic, glue,
tape, scissors, ruler, and straw or pencil.
Draw a 1 inch border on all 4 sides of the top of pizza box.
Cut along 3 sides leaving a line along the back of the box uncut.
Form a flap by gently folding back along the uncut line to form a crease.
Cut piece of aluminum foil to fit inside flap. Smooth in place with tape or glue.
Measure a piece of plastic to fit over the opening in the pizza box and tightly with tape.
Cut another piece of aluminum foil to line the bottom of the pizza box and carefully glue
in place. Cover the aluminum foil with a piece of place construction paper and tape into
place.
Close the pizza box window and prop open the flap of the box with a straw or pencil and
face toward sun. Adjust until the aluminum foil reflects the max sunlight through the
window into the interior of the oven
You are ready to cook! (Middle of day is best time to cook)
o Foods cook faster when sun is high in sky
o Foods cook faster if cut up into smaller pieces
Engage:
Today we are going to cook a snack in the sun. (Solar cooking)
Implementation:
Review previous lessons with emphasis on sun warming earth and aur that surrounds
earth.
Discuss how energy from the sun can be used to cook food
Sunshine Treats
o Show students pizza box solar oven. Explain how it is constructed.
o Identify where you have places aluminum foil, black paper, and plastic.
o Black paper gets very hot and the aluminum foil reflects light
o I am going to use the energy from the sun to cook a sun treat.
Sun Smores
o Provide each child with one fourth a graham cracker, some chocolate chips and 3
marshmallows. Place chips and marshmallows on cracker and put in oven for 30
minutes- 1 hour.
Closure:
Enjoy your solar treats.
Have students share what they have learned about the energy from the sun.
Send recipe home to make Sun Tea so they can share with family and friends

H. WHAT COULD GO WRONG WITH THIS LESSON AND WHAT WILL YOU DO
ABOUT IT?

Some students may get really excited and scream and shout
o Remind students to lower their voices and tell them there is no need to scream or
shout. Tell them to observe with their eyes and control their voice level.
During the discussion and activity, some students may not be engaged.
o Quickly engage them by asking them a question.
During the discussion, students may answer the questions incorrectly.
o See if other students can help the student out by asking another student, or nicely
guide the student to the correct answer.
It may not be a warm and sunny day when I plan to do this lesson.
o I will have to be flexible.
o I could show students a United streaming video of the sun.
o I could read a book to the students that relates to the sun, and I will have to save this
lesson for the next day that it warm and sunny, in order for the solar blanket to work.
o Or, students can complete the solar energy coloring worksheet.
A student may not like Smores.
o They do not have to eat it.
o They can still learn from this lesson though!