Curated OER
Volcanoes
Learners study volcanoes. In this volcanoes lesson, students read several volcano paragraphs and study the pictures or diagrams. Learners then make an erupting volcano, complete website research about volcanoes, and answer several...
Curated OER
The Science Behind Tsunamis
Natural disasters can be teachable moments that create more scientifically literate citizens.
Curated OER
My Science Box: Seafloor Spreading
Students examine the movement of plate tectonics. In this lesson on the spreading of the seafloor, students use maps and models to observe how the sea floor spreads.
Curated OER
Volcano!-Thar She Blows!
Students describe how volcanoes are formed. They name the types of boundaries where volcanoes occur. They utilize models to illustrate the occurence of volcanoes and earthquakes along plate boundaries. They compare and constrast the...
Curated OER
Volcano! Is That a Volcano on Your Plate?
Students investigate where volcanos come from. For this volcano lesson, students watch videos do Internet research and participate in experiments to discover the cause of volcanos.
Curated OER
Where to Live?
Students examine types of spatial data found in a GIS. In this geography instructional activity students use a GIS to facilitate analysis and decision making.
Curated OER
Changes Inside Planets
High schoolers investigate the concept of planetary differentiation. They complete an experiment to simulate it using gelatin and food. The lesson includes vocabulary to increase reading comprehension skills as part of the inquiry. The...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Earth's Layers
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Identifies the various layers of the Earth, including the crust, mantle, core, lithosphere, and asthenosphere.
Columbia University
Columbia University: Evidence for Internal Earth Structure and Composition
This resource describes how seismic waves have helped us to understand the composition of the Earth's interior. It discusses seismic discontinuities, including the Mohorovicic Discontinuity or Moho, and what we have learned about the...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Let's Build the Earth!: The Structure of the Earth's Crust and Interior
In this activity, students will make observations then construct a "sample" model representation of the Earth's layers. They will compare and contrast the movement and material in each layer explaining the location and what it contains.
Oregon State University
Osu: Volcano World: Layers of the Earth
This is a website not only on the mantle but also about all the layers of the earth.
National Geographic
National Geographic: Encyclopedia: Mantle
An in-depth look at the structure and composition of Earth's mantle, with lots of visuals. Covers lithosphere, Mohorovicic discontinuity, asthenosphere, transition zone, lower mantle, the d double-prime region, mantle convection, mantle...
Oswego City School District
Regents Exam Prep Center: Earth's Interior
A basic overview of the earth's mantle, crust, inner core, and outer core. Also discusses how earthquake waves travel through the Earth.
US Geological Survey
Usgs: The Interior of the Earth
This site provides a detailed discussion of the Earth's interior. Facts about the crust, mantle, and core are given along with diagrams of each. Also presents a table that lists the thickness and types of rock found in each part of the...
Purdue University
Purdue University: 3 D Earth Structure Model
Take a journey to the center of the Earth and learn about the structure, material properties, and conditions inside our planet.
Simon Fraser University
Chem1 Virtual Textbook: Chemical Composition and Structure of the Earth
As part of the General Chemistry Virtual Textbook, this site examines a variety of topics related to the Earth. This page looks at the Earth and its lithosphere, the chemical composition of the Earth, the structure of the Earth, and more.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Earth's Interior Study Guide
This comprehensive study guide covers the main terms and concepts needed for an earth science unit on the earth's interior. Review questions are included at the bottom of the study guide.
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Stuff to Do: Edible Earth
Take a look at the layers that make up our Earth: inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust. Then have fun making a model of the Earth's interior that you can eat up.
Other
Moorland School: Earth Science Zone: The Structure of the Earth
Take a look at the Earth from the inside out. This site shows the different layers of the earth with an explanation of the rocks and materials in each layer. Includes a quiz on the structure of Earth.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Deeper Discovery: Earth's Anatomy
Interactive site provides information on each layer of the earth. Click on a layer to discover more about it.
NOAA
Noaa: Structure of the Earth [Pdf]
Create a model to help learn the layers and structures within the Earth. Identify characteristics of each layer of the Earth.
Science Struck
Science Struck: The Four Main Layers of the Earth
Gives short descriptions of the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core.
Nine Planets
The Eight Planets: Earth
Excellent Eight Planets site that provides a vast amount of information about planet Earth. Very comprehensive and complete site.
BBC
Bbc Future: Journey to the Centre of the Earth
Explore deep underground and deep in the ocean to discover what lies beneath the surface. Don't stop until the final destination: the core of the Earth.