Our planet, Earth, is an incredible place with many mysteries. Did you know that no one has ever been to the center of the Earth? Not even close! The deepest hole ever dug didn’t even get through the Earth’s thinnest layer. But why is it so hard to dig deep? Well, the deeper you go, the hotter it gets!
Earth is made up of four main layers, and we’re going to learn about each one. Let’s start with the layer you’re on right now: the crust. The crust is the outermost layer, and it includes all the land you see, plus the land under the oceans. It’s the thinnest layer, but we’ve never been able to dig all the way through it. As you dig deeper, it gets hotter and hotter!
Next is the mantle, the second layer. It’s the thickest layer, and it’s so hot that the rocks are melted! After the mantle comes the outer core, and finally, at the very center, is the inner core, which is the hottest layer of all.
Now that we know about Earth’s layers, let’s make a model of our planet! You’ll need some art clay in different colors. You can choose any colors you like, but here’s a fun suggestion: use red for the inner core, orange for the outer core, yellow for the mantle, and brown for the crust. Use green and blue to make the continents and oceans on the crust.
Start by rolling some red clay into a ball for the inner core. Then wrap it with orange clay for the outer core. Next, add a thick layer of yellow clay for the mantle, since it’s the thickest layer. Finally, cover it with a thin layer of brown clay for the crust. Use green and blue clay to create the continents and oceans on the crust.
Once your model is done, you might want to see the layers inside. Ask a grown-up to help you carefully cut the model in half with a butter knife. Now you can see all the layers: the crust on the outside, the thick yellow mantle, the orange outer core, and the red inner core in the middle. Isn’t that cool?
There are many ways to make your own Earth model. You can use colored construction paper or even make a four-layered cake with each layer representing a part of the Earth. Be creative and have fun!
Thanks for joining us to learn about Earth’s layers. If you have any questions or want to share your model, ask a grown-up to leave a comment or send an email to [email protected]. See you next time!
Layer Hunt: Go on a “layer hunt” around your home or school. Look for objects that have different layers, like a cake, a sandwich, or an onion. Draw a picture of what you find and label each layer. Think about how these layers are similar to Earth’s layers. What do you notice about the thickness or color of each layer?
Temperature Experiment: Earth’s layers get hotter as you go deeper. Try a simple experiment to explore this idea. Fill three bowls with water: one with cold water, one with room temperature water, and one with warm water. Carefully touch each bowl and describe how the temperature changes. How does this relate to the Earth’s layers getting hotter as you go deeper?
Story Time: Imagine you are a tiny explorer traveling through the Earth’s layers. Write a short story or draw a comic strip about your adventure. What do you see and feel as you move from the crust to the inner core? Share your story with a friend or family member and ask them what they think it would be like to travel through the Earth.
