Outdoors · Science & STEM

Pizza box solar oven

Turn a pizza box into a solar oven and cook melted marshmallow-and-chocolate biscuit sandwiches using only the sun.

  • Ages 6–12best for 7–11
  • 1–2 hoursabout 40 mins of prep
  • Prepare days aheadplan below
  • Under $20about $10
  • Backyardon a hot day
  • Some helplow mess

Plan it

Good planning makes a good day. Tick things off as you go.

1Days before

2Day before

3On the day

0 of 3 done ·

You'll need

From home

  • Clean pizza box
  • foil
  • cling wrap
  • black paper
  • newspaper
  • tape
  • scissors
  • a stick

To buy

  • Marshmallows
  • chocolate
  • plain biscuits (Arnott's Marie or similar)
🪄 Wizard's tip

Set it up late morning and check every 15 minutes. The waiting is part of the experiment; have a game ready to fill the gaps.

How to do it

  1. Cut a flap in the lid on three sides (adult) and line it with foil.
  2. Tape cling wrap over the opening to make a window.
  3. Line the base with black paper and pack rolled newspaper around the sides.
  4. Put a biscuit, chocolate and marshmallow on a foil tray inside.
  5. Prop the flap towards the sun and wait 30–60 minutes.

Younger kids: Adults do the cutting; kids line the box and build the treats.

Older kids: Test temperatures with and without the foil, or try melting cheese on crackers.

⚠ Safety The inside gets hot: use oven mitts to take food out. Adults do the cutting for younger kids.

Builds Curiosity & science thinkingProblem-solvingFocus & patience

Clean-up 10 minutes.

Make it a bigger day Pair with sun prints, which also need strong sun.

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Pizza box solar oven