The Solar Cooking Archive, 1996
Topic: Solar Energy
Source: Solar Cookers International
Web address: http://www.solarcooking.org
Grade Levels: HS and beyond
Learning Strategies:
Frameworks Connections:
Science and Technology/Engineering
• Physics, Grade 9 or 10
2. Conservation of Energy and Momentum
• Earth and Space Science, Grade 9 or 10
1. Matter and Energy in the Earth System
2. The Earth's Sources of Energy
• Biology, Grades 9-10
6. Ecology
• Technology/Engineering, Grade 9 or 10
1. Engineering Design
4. Energy and Power Technologies - Thermal Systems
Cost: Free
Description: The Solar Cooking Archive offers a discussion, design plans, documents for background reading, multimedia tools, and further resources on solar cooking. The "plans section describes several different methods for making a solar cooker using boxes, panels, and more sophisticated equipment-based parabolic cookers. An equipment and materials list and a step-by-step instruction guide with images and diagrams describe the skill level needed to create each cooker.
In addition to plans, there are newsletters, frequently asked questions and background reading to supplement the creation of the solar cookers. Strong cultural content can be seen within links such as the photo gallery, which contains a title of "Solar Cookers Around the World", and has images of various uses of solar cookers. Resources for continued research and a discussion group are also offered. As some of the solar cookers are more sophisticated than others, selection of a more basic design and/or the use of extra credit or group projects might need to replace the inclusion of some projects in lesson plans. The site is also available in multiple languages.