Earth Science: Layers of the Earth
Explore the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core
Earth Science: Layers of the Earth
Explore the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core
Earth Science - Grade 4-5
- 1
List the four main layers of Earth in order from the outside to the center.
Start with the layer we live on.
The four main layers from the outside to the center are the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. - 2
Which layer of Earth is the thin, solid outer layer that includes the continents and ocean floor?
The crust is the thin, solid outer layer of Earth that includes the continents and ocean floor. - 3
The mantle is thicker than the crust. Describe one way the mantle is different from the crust.
Think about thickness and temperature.
The mantle is much thicker than the crust and is made of hot rock that can slowly flow over a very long time. - 4
Which layer is made of liquid metal and surrounds the inner core?
The outer core is made of liquid metal and surrounds the inner core. - 5
Which layer is the hottest and deepest solid layer of Earth?
The inner core is the hottest and deepest solid layer of Earth. - 6
Explain why the inner core is solid even though it is extremely hot.
Pressure can change how materials behave.
The inner core is solid because the pressure at the center of Earth is so great that the metal is squeezed into a solid state. - 7
A student says, "The crust is the thickest layer of Earth because it is the layer we see." Is the student correct? Explain.
Seeing a layer does not mean it is the largest layer.
The student is not correct. The crust is the layer we see, but it is the thinnest main layer of Earth. - 8
Label the layers in this model: A is the thin outside layer, B is the thick rocky layer, C is the liquid metal layer, and D is the solid metal center.
A is the crust, B is the mantle, C is the outer core, and D is the inner core. - 9
Why is a peach or avocado sometimes used as a model for Earth’s layers?
Compare each part of the fruit to a layer of Earth.
A peach or avocado can be used as a model because it has a thin skin, thick fruit, and a hard center, which can represent Earth’s crust, mantle, and core. - 10
Describe what happens to temperature as you travel from Earth’s crust toward the inner core.
The temperature increases as you travel from Earth’s crust toward the inner core. - 11
The mantle contains very hot rock that moves slowly. How can this slow movement affect Earth’s surface?
Think about how movement below the crust can affect the crust.
Slow movement in the mantle can help move tectonic plates, which can cause earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building. - 12
Choose the correct comparison: The crust is like the shell of an egg, the white of an egg, or the yolk of an egg. Explain your choice.
The crust is like the shell of an egg because it is the thin outside layer. - 13
What is the difference between the outer core and the inner core?
Focus on whether each layer is liquid or solid.
The outer core is liquid metal, while the inner core is solid metal. The inner core is also deeper than the outer core. - 14
Put these layers in order from coolest to hottest: inner core, crust, mantle, outer core.
The layers from coolest to hottest are crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. - 15
Draw or describe a simple cross-section of Earth that shows all four main layers. Include one fact about each layer.
Use labels and write one short fact next to each layer.
A correct cross-section should show the crust as the thin outer layer, the mantle as the thick rocky layer, the outer core as the liquid metal layer, and the inner core as the solid metal center.