Download Edible Earth Layers Investigation

Name: ____________________________________________
Period: ____________________________________________
Date: _____________________________________________
Edible Earth Layers Investigation
I. Objective: Create a model of the layers of the Earth using various items.
II. Materials:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Marshmallow
Spice drop
Melted rice krispy treats
Plastic wrap
Knife
III. Procedure:
1. Pick up the materials from the designated area.
2. Place a sheet of wax paper down on your table. This will help keep your table clean
and prevent it from getting sticky.
3. Using your plastic knife, poke a hole in the middle of your marshmallow.
4. Push the spice drop into the center of the marshmallow and fold the marshmallow
around it so it completely surrounds the spice drop.
5. Your teacher will provide you with approximately one cup of melted rice krispie for
the next layer of your model.
6. Wet your hands with water.
7. On the wax paper, spread out the rice krispie mixture into a thin sheet. Place the
marshmallow with the spice drop into the center of the rice krispie sheet. Fold the
rice krispie mixture around the marshmallow to form a ball with the marshmallow in
the center. Pack this into a tight ball.
8. Wrap a light coating of plastic wrap around your rice krispie treat ball.
9. Raise your hand so that your teacher may come to your lab station. The teacher will
cut your model in half with a serrated knife so that you can see the main layers of the
Earth.
10. Color and label a picture of the Earth in the circle provided. Color the crust layer
yellow (PLASTIC WRAP), color the mantle red (RICE KRISPIE), and leave the
core white (MARSHMALLOW W/ SPICE DROP). THIS IS QUESTION #1 IN
THE DATA SECTION!!!
11. Eat your Earth model and complete the questions that follow. BE SURE TO
THROW ALL OF YOUR TRASH INTO A TRASH CAN BEFORE YOU
LEAVE!!! SAVE THE PLASTIC KNIFE AND RETURN TO THE TEACHER AS
DIRECTED.
IV. Data:
1. Color code the picture below based on what you see in your model. Color the crust
yellow (PLASTIC WRAP), color the mantle red (RICE KRISPIE), and leave the core
white (MARSHMALLOW W/ SPICE DROP).
2. Label the following on the right side of your drawing of the Earth model: CRUST,
MANTLE, CORE.
3. Label the following on the left side of your drawing of the Earth model:
LITHOSPHERE (this is everything above the 1st dotted line), ASTHENOSPHERE
(this is everything between the 2 dotted lines), MESOSPHERE (this is everything
between the core and the 2nd dotted line), OUTER CORE, and INNER CORE.
4. Answer the remaining questions below and on the back side of this paper.
YELLOW CRUST QUESTIONS
A. What 2 materials make up the majority of the crust?
B. Does the crust contain only landmasses?
RED MANTLE QUESTIONS
C. What 2 materials make up the majority of the mantle?
D. Why do you think the mantle material sank lower in Earth (toward the center
of gravity) as compared to the crust material?
WHITE CORE QUESTIONS
E. What 2 materials make up the core of Earth?
F. Why do you think these materials sank to the center?
COMPARE THE CRUST, MANTLE, AND CORE
G. Which layer makes up the majority of Earth’s interior?
H. Which layer is the outer most layer of Earth?
I. Which layer lies under the crust?
J. Which layer lies above the core?