Science 4 Inquiry
Layers of the Earth
We can't dig a hole through the Earth, so how do we know about the layers beneath our feet? Scholars learn about layering through hands-on exploration of common materials. They study the characteristics of each layer and apply their...
University of Alaska
Clay Model Earth
What a great way to incorporate hands-on learning while teaching about the earth's layers. The class observes an overhead transparency (linked in Included Materials) as they create their own model Earth using different colors of clay....
Scholastic
Lesson One: The Earth, Background and Glossary
How much do you really know about our planet? Middle schoolers build up their prior knowledge about Earth, its placement in the solar system, its composition, and important geological vocabulary with an introductory earth science...
Royal Society of Chemistry
Structure of the Earth
What lies beyond the ground beneath our feet? Young geologists learn the four main layers of Earth with an engaging puzzle set. The interactive illustrates each layer, and users must place them correctly before they can progress to the...
Curated OER
Earth Egg
Students discuss plate tectonics and the layers of the earth's interior. They use eggs as models of the earth and answer questions regarding which part of the egg would represent which part of the earth.
Curated OER
The Earth's Interior
Eighth graders identify the layers of the Earth's interior, while learning to use WP utilities.
American Museum of Natural History
Edible Earth
Create an edible model of the Earth using crispy rice cereal, marshmallows, and chocolate, yum! Model layers include the outer core, inner core, mantle, and crust.
American Museum of Natural History
What is Earth?
Humans have only inhabited Earth for a short part of its existence. An online resource explains how scientists use clues from rocks and fossils to piece together information about Earth prior to humans. The online instruction includes...
Scholastic
Final Project: The Earth, Inside Earth
Follow in Jules Verne's footsteps and take a journey to the center of the earth! Middle schoolers work together to design a trip inside the earth using their knowledge from the previous lessons in the unit.
Curated OER
The Earth's Layers Foldable
In this earth's layers worksheet, learners build a model of the earth's layers with colored paper including the crust, the mantle, the inner core and the outer core.
Curated OER
Earth's Layers Foldable Questions Sheet
In this earth's layers worksheet, learners answer questions about the main layers of the earth using the model they built in the activity. They write details about each layer and answer questions.
Curated OER
Edible Four-Layer Earth
This lesson is designed to come after students have studied about the four main layers of the earth. They may relate the size of the sections to known objects such as the mantle to the size of a grapefruit and the outer core to the size...
Geographer Online
Restless Earth
In less than 25 years, the continent of Australia moved 4.9 feet thanks to plate tectonics. The presentation introduces the idea of the layers of the earth as well as plate tectonics. It goes into why the plates move and where we believe...
Curated OER
Layers of the Earth
In this earth science worksheet, students read about the characteristics of the Earth's layers such as the mantle, core, and crust. They answer 10 mixed type questions using the online application.
Curated OER
The Earth
When students embark on an exploration of the Earth and rock formations, this resource could be used as a way to introduce or review key concepts. Students could use this presentation as a way to review information independently at a...
Curated OER
What's Below the Earth's Surface?
Young scholars identify the geological layers of the Earth. They graphically depict each layer's characteristics. Students label and develop a color key for their exhibit. They create a down-to-Earth 3-D display with Erasable Markers.
Curated OER
The Earth's Layers
In this earth's layers worksheet, students learn about the 3 different layers of the earth: core, mantle and crust. They then use this information to answer the 16 questions in the packet. The answers are all on the last page.
Chymist
Earth Science
Explore the consistency of the earth's layers and soil through modeling. By conducting an engaging experiment, learners develop a model for the earth's layers and a soil profile using edible materials. Each material is chosen based on...
NOAA
Wooly Magma
Model the earth's core with a neat activity that uses science as an inquiry and step-by-step procedures. The activity acquires a lot of assistance from the teacher or volunteer helpers.
Curated OER
Layers of the Earth (Crust, Mantle, Inner and Outer Cores)
Students study the layers of the Earth. In this Earth's crust lesson students complete an activity, divide into groups and diagram and define given terms.
K-State Research and Extensions
The Crusty Earth
Geology rocks — literally! A geology chapter offers eleven activities at four different levels. Scholars enjoy completing hands-on experiments before applying critical thinking skills following a share, process, generalize, apply, and...
Curated OER
Layers of The Earth
For this earth science worksheet, students label the graphic organizer of the earth for the parts of the rock layers of the planet that include the crust, mantle, and core.
Curated OER
Label the Earth Diagram
In this earth's layer worksheet, students label a diagram of the earth's layers. They are given 4 terms and their definitions to read and students determine which layer is which on the diagram based on the definitions.
Curated OER
Plate Tectonics: Fifth Grade Lesson Plans and Activities
Fifth graders continue their investigation of the plate tectonics cycle with an exploration of the movement of Earth's crust. During the lab, young geologists conduct an experiment to discover the result of different types of stress...