Solar S’mores Summer STEM Activity for Kids

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What Are Solar S’mores?

Solar s’mores are mini s’mores cooked using heat energy from the sun instead of a campfire or microwave.

This activity demonstrates how solar energy can be captured and converted into heat to cook food. Kids get to observe how sunlight warms dark surfaces and trapped air while enjoying a hands-on science experiment with a tasty reward at the end!

Supplies Needed

• Muffin pan
• Foil cupcake liners or aluminum foil
• Graham crackers
• Chocolate bars
• Marshmallows

Optional:

• Thermometer
• Different pan colors for testing
• Extra toppings

How to Make Solar S’mores

Step 1: Prepare the Muffin Pan

Place foil cupcake liners into each section of the muffin pan.

Break graham crackers into smaller pieces and place one piece into the bottom of each liner.

Step 2: Add the Ingredients

Top each graham cracker with:

• a square of chocolate
• one marshmallow

Step 3: Place in the Sun

Set the muffin pan outside in a hot, sunny location.

Leave the pan in direct sunlight for about an hour, or until the marshmallows and chocolate become soft and melty.

Step 4: Eat and Enjoy!

Once melted, carefully remove the solar s’mores and enjoy your delicious science experiment!

How Do Solar S’mores Work?

This activity demonstrates solar energy, thermal energy, and heat transfer.

The sun’s rays give off light energy. Dark and reflective surfaces absorb and trap that energy, converting it into heat.

The muffin pan and foil liners help trap warmth, heating the air around the s’mores. As the temperature rises, the chocolate softens and the marshmallows melt.

This simple activity introduces kids to:

• solar energy
• heat absorption
• heat transfer
• renewable energy
• solar cooking

It’s a great hands-on way to explore how the sun’s energy can be used in everyday life.

Try a Traditional Pizza Box Solar Oven

Another popular way to make solar s’mores is by building a DIY solar oven from a cardboard box or a pizza box. In this version, the inside of the box is lined with aluminum foil, black construction paper, and plastic wrap to help trap the sun’s heat energy inside the box.

The shiny side of the aluminum foil reflects the sun’s rays into the oven, while the black paper absorbs light energy and converts it into thermal energy. Plastic wrap placed over the opening helps trap warm air inside, creating insulation and allowing the solar oven to heat up enough to melt marshmallows and chocolate bars.

To make a pizza box solar oven, you typically:

• cut a flap in the the pizza box lid
• cover the inside of the flap with aluminum foil
• tape plastic wrap over the opening
• place black paper inside the box to absorb heat
• position the box in direct sunlight
• prop the lid of the pizza box open with a wooden skewer or pencil

This version is a fantastic way for kids to learn about:

• solar energy
• heat transfer
• insulation
• renewable energy
• how the power of the sun can be used for cooking

Kids love comparing different solar oven designs to see which setup traps the most heat and melts the s’mores fastest!

STEM Extension Ideas

Turn this activity into a full STEM investigation by experimenting with different variables.

Try testing:

• dark pans vs. light pans
• metal vs. silicone muffin tins
• sunny vs. shaded locations
• different outdoor temperatures
• different cooking times

Ask kids:

• Which setup melted the s’mores fastest?
• How does sunlight create heat?
• Why do dark colors absorb more heat?
• How do solar ovens work?

You can also:

• record temperatures
• graph melting times
• compare results
• design your own solar cooker

This activity is a fantastic introduction to renewable energy and environmental science.

Grab the Free STEM Lab Sheet

Want to turn this activity into a complete STEM lesson?

Download my free printable STEM Lab Sheet to help kids:

• make predictions
• test variables
• record observations
• compare results
• think like scientists

It’s an easy way to extend the learning and practice the scientific method during hands-on summer STEM activities.

Part of the Summer Science Camp

This activity is also included in my Summer Science Camp — a collection of hands-on STEM projects, outdoor science activities, and printable learning pages designed to make summer learning fun and easy.

Perfect for:

• homeschool families
• summer enrichment
• camps
• classrooms
• bored kids on hot afternoons

If your kids love hands-on science activities, be sure to check it out!

More Nature Science Activities for Kids

If your kids enjoyed this activity, try these other fun nature and outdoor STEM projects:

• Homemade Wind Vane
• Gardening with Kids
• Leaf Transpiration Experiment
• The Seeds We Eat Activity
• Homemade Worm Tower
• Insect Hotel

More STEAM Learning Fun

If your kids enjoy creative hands-on STEM activities like this, they may also love my book Science Art and Drawing Games for Kids, filled with engaging ways to combine science, art, and learning through play.