Things are heating up this summer!

With the sun high in the sky, now is a great time to head outside, cook lunch in the sun and have a solar picnic!

Prepare for Your Solar Picnic:

• Make a Solar Cooker – Have your kids create a simple solar cooker with this step-by-step article. This activity is fun and easy – and kids are always amazed that the power of the sun can be used to cook their food!
• Choose a simple food that you can cook in the sun. For something really easy, choose hot dogs! With buns, ketchup, mustard, and relish – you’re all set! For a variety of flavors, try sun kabobs! Place bite-sized pieces of ham, pineapple, and cherries on a skewer – or experiment with your own flavors! Want a dessert? Cook s’mores! Graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows taste great when cooked in a solar cooker!
• Make Sun Tea – Use solar power to make a refreshing drink! Mmm good!
• Grab your sunglasses, take along a blanket to sit on, and have fun!

Additional Things You Can Do for Your Picnic:

Remember that cooking in the sun is going to take a bit longer than cooking on a stove. While you are waiting for your meal, here are some fun things you can do!

• Paint Your Own Tea Set – Paint your own cups and saucers and turn your solar picnic into a solar tea party!
• Solar Science – This cool kit includes a simple solar cooker that you can cook and experiment with! Perfect for setting up more than one solar cooker.
• Solar Oven – Need a larger solar oven with more horsepower? This simple kit is perfect! It can cook a steak in 20 minutes!
• Solar Print Paper – Turn your solar picnic into a party! Use this magical solar paper to create unique party invitations.
• Sun Paint Kit and Solar Beads – As your food is cooking, experiment with the sun’s UV rays with this handy science kit.
• Mega Marbles Sun Game Net – Play a game of marbles while waiting for your lunch to cook! The marbles in this set look like the sun – how fun!
• The Sun In Me, Poems About the Planets – While enjoying your picnic in the sun, read aloud from this diverse collection of poems from many cultures that celebrate the beauty and fragility of our Earth.

We’ll be posting fun sunny day and starry night activities all month – click the icon in the upper right corner of this window to subscribe to our blog and be alerted via email when there is a new post!