A
WebQuest for 6th Grade
Designed by Suzette DelBono
sdelbono@comcast.net
Introduction | Task | Process
| Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits |Teacher notes
Introduction
An energy crisis is causing economic hardship in
our state. Summer brown-outs and the high cost of air conditioning homes is causing
California citizens to look at reducing energy usage. One area of concern is the
energy used to prepare meals and the unwanted heat generated by using a stove or oven to
cook food.
Solar ovens are considered a practical alternative to traditional cooking methods. A
major corporation is searching for the best solar oven design to produce solar ovens for
the Sacramento area. The design of the oven should be inexpensive to create and must
produce high temperatures. The team of researchers, designers, manufactures and
marketers will present their product to the corporation in order to win the bid.
The Task
Team members will assume leadership roles to research,
design, create and market a solar oven. All
members will participate in all aspects of the project.
Your goal as a team is to create an efficient solar oven design that can be
used to cook a meal.
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The Process
Get
background Information 
on solar ovens
Use the Note
Taking Page and the Questions to
Ponder Worksheet to get background information of the science of solar cookers.
History of Solar Cooking
http://solarcooking.org/bernardart1.html
Physics
of Solar Cooking
http://exoticblades.com/tamara/sol_cook/phys_sci.html
http://www.stanford.edu/group/syesp/activities/projects/engineer/physics.html
Principles
of Solar Box Cooker Designs
http://solarcooking.org/sbcdes.htm
Tips
for Designing and Constructing a Solar Cooker
http://www.solarcooking.org/cctips.htm
Tips for Using a Solar Cooker
http://exoticblades.com/tamara/sol_cook/tips.html
Additional
Information
http://solarcooking.org/docs.htm
Research
and design the solar oven
Use
the Materials List Worksheet as you
design your solar oven.
Use
the following Web Sites to assist in designing.
Solar
Cooking Materials
http://solarcooking.org/solarcooking-faq.htm
Solar Cooking Design Plans
http://solarcooking.org/plans.htm
Test the
solar oven
Set
up the oven in direct sunlight in a teacher designated area. Use a thermometer
to take a temperature reading every 5 minutes for a total of 45 minutes. Move
the oven to a shady area and continue recording the temperature every 5 minutes for 30
minutes. Use this chart.
Create
a graph showing the relationship of time in the sun to internal temperature.
Market
the solar oven
Create
a one page brochure that desribes the solar oven listing all of its features and selling
points.
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Evaluation
A
successful conclusion will have the following: participation, research, design,
construction and data collection and marketing information submitted.
Teachers
and students may use this rubric.
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Conclusion
With the help of your teacher celebrate the completion of your project by cooking with
your solar oven.
Solar Cooking Recipes with Photos
http://www.solarcook.com/recipes.html
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Credits & References
Melissa Smith - 6th grade
Oakview Elementary School
Orangevale CA
Solar Cooking International
19190 21st street
Sacramento CA 95814
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Based on a template from The WebQuest Page |