Sunny Summer Heat

Two solar ovens ready to use for demonstrations. Within 15 minutes I was able to get temperatures up to 140 degrees. I borrowed the NASA @ my Library kit thermometers to show heat, cooling, insulation, and energy. We tried to pop popcorn, but that pops at 413 degrees. We didn't have enough time or large enough reflectors. The first oven one is a restaurant sized bowl, on an old globe stand, a bbq grill to elevate it, and a black pot with a glass lid. The second one is a Brodart box within a Brodart box and reflectors cut to funnel heat and light energy into the middle. I reused Mylar balloons because they are very reflective and light. They are less fragile than aluminum foil.The last one is not pictured but it is two buckets with a automobile sun shield. Temperatures in all of them got to about 140 after thirty minutes exposure.

While we were waiting for temperatures to rise, we read Arrow to the Sun. Every once in a while I would send two of the children on a temperature mission to check the popcorn and to measure the temperatures of 5 things. Each child reported back on what was hot and what was cold. I brought ice packs to show the cool temperatures. It was important that the kids be introduced to the renewable energy from the sun and that they can create things that make that energy do work for us. They also learned how to get temperature readings and see what they can do to change temperatures of the things around them.

#library #parks #solarenergy #scienceinstories #whatstheBIGidea

Language Arts concepts:

• Renewable energies vocabulary
• story telling and spoken word performance
• reading comprehension

STEM

• renewable energy and solar heat
• design
• materials with properties of heat insulation and conductivity.

Cultural Competence

• Pueblo culture inspired story telling art and designs