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:

 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
• 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

* 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