Your student constructs a functional solar oven from a pizza box lined with aluminum foil and black construction paper, then tests it on chocolate pieces, marshmallows, or graham crackers placed in an oven-safe pan. The experiment sheet walks through a nine-step procedure and asks students to log temperature in degrees Fahrenheit every 10 to 15 minutes across eight time intervals, from zero to 120 minutes, answering the central question of how hot the solar oven from a pizza box can actually get. This lab fits grades 4 through 7 and pairs naturally with energy, heat transfer, or renewable energy unit studies.

Beyond the build, the sheet prompts a written hypothesis, structured observations about temperature change and food behavior, and a conclusion asking whether the hypothesis held up. Completing it demonstrates that your homeschooler can collect time-series data, draw evidence-based conclusions, and connect a hands-on build to underlying science concepts. It works as a standalone afternoon experiment or as the centerpiece of a solar energy unit.