The Layers of the

Earth!
 Directions for today’s activity:
• Use the templates to cut the layers of the Earth out of construction paper:
• Use:
– Green for the crust
– Light brown for the mantle
– Yellow for the outer core
– Red for the inner core

• Lay them one on top of the other like in this diagram:

 Next. . .
• Fold all of the circles down the middle (where the dotted line is in the figure).
Then glue the bottom layers down to hold them in place.

Glue these layers down

• You have just made a slice of the Earth! Hold on to this until everyone is
finished and we’ll learn a little bit more about each part. You’ll be taking
notes on the upper half of the Earth.
 Earth Layers

• The Earth is divided into four main

layers.

*Crust
*Mantle
*Outer core
*Inner core
http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/DisplayImage.cfm?ID=124
 The Crust
* The Earth’s crust is the outermost
surface.

*It is a very thin layer of solid rock.

It is the thinnest layer of the
Earth.

*The crust is 5-35km thick beneath

the land and 1-8km thick beneath
the oceans.

* The crust of the Earth is broken

into many pieces called plates.
The movement of these plates
causes earthquakes.
 The Lithosphere
• On your mantle layer, draw a
dotted line around the very
edge of the circle. This is
the lithosphere.

• The lithosphere is composed

of part of the crust and the
upper part of the mantle (the
top 100 km).

• It is composed of hard,
brittle rock
 The Athenosphere
* The athenosphere is the part
of the mantle underneath the
lithosphere. Draw a dashed
line about an inch under your
dotted line.

* It is made of molten rock and

metal so that it “flows” like
hot asphalt.

* The athenosphere is the part

of the mantle that moves and
causes the tectonic plates of
the crust to move as well.
 The Mantle
* The mantle is the largest
layer of the Earth. It is
2900km thick.

*It includes the lithosphere and

athenosphere.

*It is relatively flexible—it

flows like very viscous liquid.

*It is very hot—1600°F at the

top and 4000°F towards the
center of the Earth.
 The Core
* The core of the Earth is
like a ball of very hot
metals. The core is divided
into 2 layers—Outer and
Inner.

* The core is SO hot and has

SO much pressure that if
you were to go there—you
would be squished into
something even smaller than
a marble.
 The Outer Core
* The outer core is liquid
metal iron and nickel
with 10% sulfur and/or
oxygen.

* It is very hot—
4000-9000°F.

* The outer core is

2,250km thick.
 The Inner Core
* The inner core is solid
metal due to the extreme
heat and pressure.

* It is composed of iron and

nickel. It is responsible
for the magnetic field the
Earth generates.

* The inner core is 800km

thick and is 9000°F.
 Review
1) What are the four layers of the Earth?
2) The Earth’s crust is very ______?
3) The mantle is the largest layer of the
Earth? True or False
4) Is the Outer Core a liquid or a solid?
 Answers!
1) Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, Inner Core
2) Thin
3) True
4) Liquid