How are these things similar to the Earth?

Whats Inside the Earth?

Learning Objective:
1.
Students should know the layers of the earth
2.
Students should know the earths crust is separated into plates and
how the plates are distributed
3.
Students should know the major contrasts between continental and
oceanic plates

What are the different layers called?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/structure-of-theearth/9117.html

A Slice Through the Earth

1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.
8.

Collect a copy of the Pop Up World Sheet from your teacher

On the left diagram colour the land green and the sea blue.
Go over the dotted lines in red.
On the 2nd diagram colour the inner circle light yellow, the
next circle dark yellow, the 3rd circle orange, the 4th circle
red and the outer circle brown.
Cut out both diagrams making sure to keep the tabs
attached.
Put a title The Layers of the Earth in your books.
Put glue on the back of the 2nd diagram and stick it neatly
under your title.
Glue only the back of the tab on the first diagram and stick
to the tab on the second diagram.
Label the different sections of the Earths interior.

What is each layer like?

You have been given a set of
cards with different properties
for the different layers of the
earth.
Try to sort the cards to match up
with one of the four main layers:

Crust
Mantle
Outer Core
Inner Core

Once sorted label these

properties around your diagram

Extension:
No one has ever dug
down very far beneath
the crust so how do we
know whats
underneath?

Depth

Inner Core

Outer Core

Mantle

Crust

Temperature

Composition

Depth

Temperature

Composition

Inner Core

1250km
thick

5500C 6200C

Solid iron and nickel

Outer Core

2200km
thick

3800C 5500C

Liquid iron and nickel

Mantle

2900km
thick

1000C 3800C

Soft semi-molten rock made of rocks

rich in iron and magnesium

680km
thick

Cool
temperatur
es - 1000C

A hard outer shell made from mainly

basalt and granite

Crust

semi

Your pop up
world should
look something
like this

The Crust
As hopefully we now know the outer
layer of the earth, the crust, is not a
solid, unbroken layer but is actually
cracked like the shell of an egg.
The crust is divided into:
7 major plates
8 minor plates
50+ much smaller sub-plates

You need to know where the major

plates are located

Where are the major plates?

Note: Ignore the
arrows for the
minute we will talk
about these next
lesson
Extension:
There are some
minor plates drawn
on your map as well.
How many can you
see. Can you guess
any of their names?

On your copy of the above map label the 7 major plates (and
one minor) in their correct position
You have been given a set of cards with their names on to help you

The Distribution of the Major Plates

What does the term distribution actually mean?

Note: The Nazca is actually a minor plate (but its an important one)

Continental Vs Oceanic Crust

As we now know the earths crust is divided up into a series of plates.
Some of these plates are above sea level (known as continental crust) and
some of these plates are below sea-level (known as oceanic crust).
There are some extremely important differences between them.
Unscramble the words from the table below to work out what the most
important of these differences are

Oceanic Crust

Continental Crust

neugroy
nithner
sender
anc nisk
anc eb dreween ro drodystee
dame fo tsaalb

doler
kithcer
sels nesde
nancot nisk
ncat eb dreween ro drodystee
dame fo natgrie

Continental & Oceanic Crust

Oceanic Crust

Continental Crust

Younger (<200million years old) Older (>1500 million years old)

Thinner (6-10 km)
Thicker (25-80 km)
Denser
Less Dense
Can sink
Cannot sink
Can be renewed or destroyed Cant be renewed or destroyed
Mainly made of basalt
Mainly made of granite
Task: Get
a copy of
this table
into your
books

Extension:
Imagine you have been given two
pieces of crust.
Design an experiment to help you
decide which one is oceanic and
which one is continental

Odd One Out!

You have been given an odd one out sheet
Complete the first activity by spotting the odd
one out and justifying its selection
Then, create three more odd one out games
using information you have learnt today
Swap sheets with your partner and complete
each others