Have you ever wondered what is beneath the Earth’s surface? This printable layers of the earth activity teaches about the Earth’s structure. With a few simple supplies, you can turn it into an easy STEAM activity (Science + Art!). This is a fantastic geology activity for multiple ages!
Layers Of The Earth Craft
This Earth science activity would be great to pair with building a model of the layers of the Earth from basic LEGO bricks or even playdough!
Supplies:
- Layers of the Earth Worksheet
- Glue
- Colored sand in 6 different colors (or colored markers)
💡 The Layers of Earth template also makes a great coloring worksheet to add to a lesson plan!
Instructions:
STEP 1: Print out the earth layers activity page.
STEP 2: Add glue to each section of the design and then sprinkle with different colors of sand or glitter. Use a different color to represent each layer of the earth. Alternatively, just color with markers.
TIP: Start with the innermost layer and work outwards!
STEP 3: If you using glue, when you have finished sprinkling on the sand, shake off any excess and let dry.
The Layers Of The Earth
The earth’s structure can be divided into three main layers: the core, the mantle, and the crust. Each of these layers can be further divided into two parts: the inner and outer core, the upper and lower mantle, and the continental and oceanic crust.
The Crust
The outermost layer of the Earth consists of the solid crust and is relatively rigid and brittle. It is broken up into tectonic plates that move and interact with one another. Learn about tectonic plates!
The crust is made up of many different types of rocks that fall into three main categories: igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary.
Learn more about the different types of rocks…
The Mantle
The upper mantle is composed of hot, ductile rock that flows slowly over time. It is responsible for the movement of the tectonic plates. The lower mantle is composed of solid rock that flows very slowly over long periods.
One way scientists learn about the earth’s mantle is to study earthquakes and look at how the seismic waves move through rock.
Intense heat causes the rocks to rise. They then cool and sink back down to the core. When the mantle pushes through the crust, volcanoes erupt.
Enjoy a volcano experiment, and learn more about volcanoes…
The Core
The outer core is composed of liquid iron and nickel. It generates the Earth’s magnetic field through a process known as the dynamo effect. This is the innermost layer of the Earth, consisting of solid iron and nickel. It is under immense pressure and has temperatures reaching up to 5,500 degrees Celsius. That is HOT!
More Fun Geology Activities
When you finish this layers of the earth activity, why not explore more earth science with one of these ideas below. You can find all our earth science activities for kids here!
Make your own tasty sedimentary rock to explore geology.
Explore the stages of the rock cycle with a crayon rock cycle or candy rock cycle!
Why not grow sugar crystals or make edible geodes!
Explore soil erosion for kids.
Learn all about volcanos with these volcano facts and even make your own volcano.
Make this fun plate tectonic model.
Learn about how fossils are formed.
More Fun Science Projects
- Layers of Soil Model
- Layers of the Ocean Model
- Layers of the Atmosphere
- Layers of Earth STEAM Project
- 3D Layers of the Earth Model
- Geology Projects for Kids
Printable Geology Activities Pack
Kids love rocks, and this pack is a fantastic way to encourage their passion for exploring, learning, and collecting with hands-on learning activities! Note: This pack is included in our Spring STEM Pack!
- 8+ Hands-On Learning Activities exploring crystals, rocks, and volcanos
- Additional mini-packs include materials to learn about soil layers, layers of the earth, and the rock cycle!
- Extras include: vocabulary words, fun games, projects
- Be a Collector Pack: start a rock collection like a geologist
- 3 Dioramas: Build 3 models including rock cycle, soil layers, and layers of the earth
