Download Primary - Maggie`s Earth Adventures

Maggie’s
Activity Pack
Name __________________________
Date ___________________________
A Multi-Layered Planet!
Have you ever peeled an onion? An onion is a good way to think
about the layers on Planet Earth. Look up. Our atmosphere has layers.
Look at your feet. The Earth below you has layers, too. We think of three
main layers of the Earth, the crust, mantle, and core. These main layers
have sub layers, too.
The part of the Earth that we walk on is called the crust. On land,
much of the crust is granite. This is the continental crust. It is about 20 to
30 miles deep. On the ocean floor, the crust may only be about 4 miles
deep. The oceanic crust is mainly made up of basalt.
Below the crust is the mantle. This layer is about 84% of Planet
Earth. The mantle is made of magma and other soft rocks. This layer can
be divided into many smaller, sub layers. The temperature of the mantle
rises as we move toward the center of the Earth. Scientists just discovered
something new about this layer. They found out there is a solid part in the
middle of the mantle. They have more to learn about the 1800 miles deep
mantle.
The core is the center of the Earth. It is made of metals like iron and
nickel. The core is very hot. Because of the pressure from our planet, these
metals are solid rather than liquid.
We can think of Earth as having 3 layers: the crust, mantle, and core.
But each of these layers has sub parts. We are still learning more about our
planet.
© Maggie's Earth Adventures, LLC 2015. www.missmaggie.org Teachers may reproduce for classroom use.
Use what you learned to answer these questions.
True or False?
1. ________________________ The temperature of the mantle gets cooler
as it gets closer to the core.
2. ________________________ The center part of Earth is the core, which
is hot, and made of liquid metal.
3. ________________________ The oceanic crust is different than the
continental crust.
4. ________________________ The mantle is very deep and made of
mostly granite.
A. What is one difference between the oceanic crust and the continental
crust?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
B. Choose a layer of the Earth. Tell what it is made of.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
© Maggie's Earth Adventures, LLC 2015. www.missmaggie.org Teachers may reproduce for classroom use.
Dear Colleague,
The layers of the Earth are so complex that we wanted to bring you an activity
that went beyond the usual three-layer division of the crust, mantle and core. Then we
read about the new discovery in the mantle and this prompted us to use the analogy of
an onion rather than the usual diagram of an apple to help children think about the
many sub layers that make up the three main layers of the Earth. This WAP is just an
introduction to the complexity that is our planet.
We originally were going to offer you a comprehensive activity using the layers of
the atmosphere along with the layers of the Earth. But, as we designed the offering, we
realized how multifaceted this is, and believed you needed to invite children to explore
this on their own. This written activity allows children to learn about the Earth while our
on-line interactive activity, found in the Cartoon section of “You Must Be Choking” helps
children name, identify, and find out more about the layers of our atmosphere. You can
use these activities together for children to demonstrate a complete understanding of
the “Layers of Our Life.” We suggest having children construct a 3-D model using any
recycled material that makes sense to them to show these layers. They can use the
information to depict objects like different kinds of rocks in the Earth or clouds in the
atmosphere. By placing items in the layers, the idea of the multi-layers that protect us
will become more meaningful to our students.
Additionally, we encourage you to have children circle or underline the scientific
(academic) vocabulary in the informational text. They can use these words to add to or
begin a science glossary.
Happy teaching,
Dr. Kathy
Answer Key:
Note that some of the true/false questions contain several ideas. If one part is not true,
then it makes the statement false. Children often need to practice this concept.
1. False
2. False
3. True
4. False
A. The continental crust is on land, is made of mostly granite, and can be 30 miles
deep. The oceanic crust is on the ocean floor, is only about 4 miles deep, and is
made of basalt.
B. Continental Crust – granite, oceanic crust – basalt, mantle – magma and soft
rocks while one part is very solid, core – iron and nickel.
Goals:
Children read an informational text about the layers of the earth. The complexity of the
three main layers is explained. True/false questions along with 2 questions requiring
children to use the academic language in the article are provided as follow-up. This
activity is available on the intermediate and primary levels with a companion emergent
reader activity. It is integrated with Content Standard D, Earth and Space Science of the
National Science Standards and is aligned with RI Key Ideas and Details and Craft and
Structure of the ELA Common Core.
© Maggie's Earth Adventures, LLC 2015. www.missmaggie.org Teachers may reproduce for classroom use.