Summer Science: Solar Energy

This month's issue of Parent's Magazine has some solar crafts, using  Inkodye to create solar activated images.  When I host a camp, I pick a theme for the morning and have used solar energy as a theme.  I've used UV sensitive paper and construction paper sun prints using everyday objects, such as bottle caps, scissors, and trinkets.  We love to thread UV or sun activated beads on to chenille stems to wear outside.  Have you heard of Liter of Light?  I learned about this project when our summer science camp had solar fun.  We tried it by inserting bottles of water into a giant cardboard box and dragging it outside.  My friend, Marissa, dragged the box inside, put solar lights into colorful plastic cups, and inserted them into the holes left from the liter bottles.  The little kids at camp sat in the box for hours.  Try making a pizza box solar oven to make s'mores.  Last cool idea: a solar bag.  Just remember to tether it.  If you inflate this on a hot day in July, the solar bag will take off and rise out of sight.  Really.