The charms and benefits of using simple solar ovens as classroom tools were demonstrated during workshops at Teacher Institute Day in Hilo, Hawaii, in October. The state's teachers' union developed Teacher Institute Days for professional training and improvement. The simplest solar ovens can be made from shoeboxes, aluminum foil, overhead transparencies, and other readily available materials. Even elementary school students can successfully build their own ovens, which can reach 200 F on a sunny day-warm enough to make 'smores, nachos, or other snacks. Experimenting with solar ovens gives youngsters an opportunity to learn observation skills, data collection, and scientific method.
Solar ovens are a good low-temperature heat source.
The curriculum was derived from an activity of the Florida Middle School Energy Education Project. The Hawaii Energy Extension Service is a program of the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. This event follows a successful E-85 grand opening with Governor Terry Branstad at the Texaco Truck Stop at Highway 34 and 406 in West Burlington in early October. Additional E-85 tank grand opening ceremonies are scheduled for Ames and West Des Moines in early December. The goal of the program is to provide a fueling infrastructure so that private and public fleet owners will be encouraged to invest in E-85 automobiles.