Make an oven

What can I use instead of a pizza box, aluminum foil, black construction paper, or plastic wrap if I can't find them?

If you don't have a pizza box use a similarly sized shoebox or cereal box and follow the same cutting/hinge steps, replace aluminum foil with a reflective emergency blanket or small mirror taped to the flap, use black cloth or painted cardboard for the bottom, and swap plastic wrap for a clear plastic folder or transparency sheet taped over the opening.

My oven isn't getting hot or the foil flap won't reflect sunlight properly—how can I fix it?

Check that the foil is taped smooth and shiny-side out on the flap (step 6), that the plastic window is sealed all around with tape (step 8), and re-angle the flap and box so the reflected sunlight hits the black paper inside (steps 11–12), adding a second plastic layer or smoothing wrinkles to reduce heat loss.

How can I adapt the activity for different age groups?

For young children have an adult do the cutting and prop the flap (steps 2–4 and 11) while kids tape foil and put snacks in, for elementary kids let them assemble and angle the oven themselves, and for older kids add a thermometer and timed experiments (steps 9–13) for more challenge.

How can we improve or personalize the solar oven after finishing the basic build?

To enhance performance and personalization add insulation like crumpled newspaper around the inside before taping the black paper (step 7), attach an adjustable brace or protractor to fine-tune the foil flap angle (step 11), decorate the outside, and test different snacks and times to document results (step 13).