The Layers of Earth

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Peeling Back the Layers

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to explain the physical layers of the Earth and tell what each layer is made of.

Introduce the learning objective to the students.

What do you already know about the layers of the Earth?

The Earth has four main layers:

1. crust

2. mantle

3. outer core

4. inner core

Layers of the Earth

Introduce the different layers of the Earth to the students.

Crust

The Earth's crust is the outermost layer and is made up of solid rock. It is the thinnest layer, ranging from 5-70 km thick.

Show pictures and diagrams of the Earth's crust to the students.

Mantle

The mantle is the layer beneath the crust and is the thickest layer. The mantle ranges from 2,900-3,200 km thick. It is made up of solid rock, but is so hot that it can flow like a liquid.

Show pictures and diagrams of the Earth's mantle to the students.

Outer Core

The outer core is the layer beneath the mantle and is made up of liquid iron and nickel. It is responsible for generating Earth's magnetic field. 

Show pictures and diagrams of the Earth's outer core to the students.

Inner Core

The inner core is the Earth's innermost layer and is made up of solid iron and nickel. It is extremely hot, with temperatures reaching up to 5,500°C.

Show pictures and diagrams of the Earth's inner core to the students.

Crust Composition

The Earth's crust is made up of different types of rocks, including igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.

Explain the different types of rocks that make up the Earth's crust.

Mantle Composition

The mantle is made up of silicate rocks, including magnesium and iron silicates.

Explain the composition of the Earth's mantle to the students.

The outer core is made up of liquid iron and nickel.

Outer Core Composition

The outer core is made up of liquid iron and nickel.

Explain the composition of the Earth's outer core to the students.

The outer core is made up of liquid iron and nickel.

Inner Core Composition

The inner core is made up of solid iron and nickel.

This is where the magnetic field on the Earth is generated from.

Explain the composition of the Earth's outer core to the students.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.