Download Exploring the Earth's Layers: A Cross-Section Model for Students and more Study Guides, Projects, Research Geology in PDF only on Docsity!
Spheres of the Earth
What’s Beneath Our Feet?
Estimated Time: 20 - 30 minutes Age range: 4 th- 6 th^ grade What you need: See individual materials lists for activities on pages below Read below to learn about the four layers of the earth: The earth is made up of four layers: the inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust. Read more about each layer in the boxes below.
Mantle
The mantle is the thickest layer of the earth (1,800 miles thick). It is made up of very hot, dense rock. The temperatures of the mantle vary from 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit (near the top) to about 4,000° Fahrenheit (near the bottom). This layer of rock is semi-solid, but still flows under pressure. The consistency is kind of like peanut butter or oatmeal. This movement of the mantle is the reason the plates of the Earth move!
Crust
The crust is the part of the Earth that we can see. It is made up of a thin layer of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock. The crust is about 3-5 miles thick under the oceans (oceanic crust), and about 25 miles thick under the continents (continental crust). The crust is not made up of one solid rock, but multiple pieces called tectonic plates.
Inner Core
The inner core is a dense ball of mostly iron. The inner core has temperatures and pressures so great that the metals are squeezed together and are unable to move like a liquid, but instead vibrate in place as a solid. The inner core begins about 4,000 miles beneath the earth’s crust, and is about 800 miles thick. The temperature of the inner core is approximately 9,300° Fahrenheit.
Outer Core
The outer core is approximately 1, 4 00 miles thick. It is made mostly of liquid nickel and iron. The outer core is very hot (approximately 8,100° to 9,900° Fahrenheit). The liquid metals of the outer core churn, which creates and sustains the Earth’s magnetic field.
Choose one of the models below and follow the instructions to create your own model of a cross section of the Earth. Paper and Marker Model: This model demonstrates what the earth would look like if a cross section were cut out. Think of a cross section like a slice of cake. The slice of cake includes the frosting and all the layers of cake. A cross section of the earth includes all of the layers. What you need: paper, at least four different colored markers (or crayon/colored pencils) Directions:
- Draw a large triangle on your piece of paper. The triangle will represent a cross section of the earth.
- Separate your triangle into four sections. Each section will represent a layer of the earth. Think about how thick each layer is as you draw your lines.
- Color each section of your model with a different color.
- Label each section, and add facts and information to your labels.
Playdough Model: This model demonstrates what the earth would look like if it were sliced in half. What you need: Playdough (recommended colors: red, orange, yellow, brown, blue, green-it’s okay if you don’t have these colors, just try to make each layer a different color), a butter knife or dental floss, OPTIONAL: toothpicks and paper
- Make a small solid ball out of your red playdough. This will be the inner core.
- Flatten a piece of orange playdough. Wrap the flat piece of orange playdough around the red ball. This will represent the outer core. Think about how thick the outer core is compared to the inner core.
- Flatten a piece of yellow playdough. Wrap the flat piece of yellow playdough around the red/orange circle. This will represent the mantle. Remember that the mantle is the thickest layer. Try to make this layer of playdough thicker than the others. 4.Flatten a piece of brown playdough. Wrap the flat piece of brown playdough around red/orange/yellow circle. Think about how thick the crust is compared to the other layers.
- Mix some green and blue playdough together. This will represent the land and water of the earth. Flatten a piece of the green/blue playdough and wrap it around the outside of your playdough circle.
- Cut your playdough circle in half using a butter knife or dental floss. You will be able to see all of the layers of the Earth.
- OPTIONAL- write labels for the different layers of the earth and attach them to toothpicks to place in the different layers.
Sources: https://science4fun.info/composition-of-the-earth/ https://www.pinterest.com/pin/380132024792326889/ https://www.pinterest.com/pin/177118197814672747/
