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The structure of the Earth
Information box:
The Earth consists of four main layers: the inner core, the outer core, the mantle
and the crust.
The inner core is in the centre and is the hottest part of the Earth. It is solid and
made up of iron and nickel. The temperatures in the inner core reach up to 5500°C.
The outer core surrounds the inner core. Temperatures are similar to the inner core
and it is also made of iron and nickel, but is liquid. The mantle is the thickest layer
of the Earth. It is made up of semi-molten rock called magma. The crust is the outer
layer of the Earth. It is the solid rock layer that we live on. There are two types of
crust: continental crust which carries land, and oceanic crust, which carries water.
The four layers of the Earth are all of different thicknesses. The inner core is 1250
km thick, and the outer core 2200 km. The mantle is the thickest layer at 2900 km.
The crust is very thin at between 5 and 30 km thick.
Key
Inner core
Outer core
Mantle
Crust
Activity 1:
Read the information box at the top of the sheet. Use four different colours to select the parts
of the text that relate to the crust, the mantle, the outer core and the inner core. Make sure
you complete the key so that you know which colour is which.
Activity 2:
In the space above sketch a diagram to show the inside of the earth. Use the information you
have selected to add labels to the diagram. Remember to pick out the key information about
each layer, such as the name, how thick it is, what it is made of.
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The structure of the Earth
Cut out these cards and sort the information into piles, each one linked to a
different layer of the earth. You should have four piles!
Crust
Consists of solid rock
Temperature n/a
5-30 km thick
Consists of molten
iron
Outer Core
2900 km thick
2200 km thick
1000°C
Consists of solid iron
Inner Core
3700°C
Mantle
4300°C
1250 km thick
Mostly iron,
magnesium and
aluminium
Crust
Consists of solid rock
Temperature n/a
5-30 km thick
Consists of molten
iron
Outer Core
2900 km thick
2200 km thick
1000°C
Consists of solid iron
Inner Core
3700°C
1250 km thick
Mostly iron,
magnesium and
aluminium
Mantle
4300°C
© www.teachitgeography.co.uk 2017
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The structure of the Earth
Teachers notes:
Activity 1:
Students should read through the information box about the structure of the earth, then use four
different colours to select the parts of the text that relate to the crust, the mantle, the outer
core and the inner core. They should add the colours they used to key so that they know which
colour is which.
Activity 2:
In the space provided they should sketch a diagram to show the inside of the earth, adding
labels to the diagram using information from the text box. They should pick out the key
information about each layer, such as the name, how thick it is, what it is made of, etc.
Activity 3:
Once they have completed this, they could complete the card sort to should understanding of
the comprehension activity.
Answers for card sort activity:
Crust
Mantle
Outer Core
Inner Core
5-30 km thick
2900 km thick
2200 km thick
1250 km thick
Temperature N/A
1000°C
3700°C
4300°C
Consists of solid rock
Mostly iron,
magnesium and
aluminium
Consists of molten
iron
Consists of solid iron
© www.teachitgeography.co.uk 2017
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