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WHAT’S INSIDE EARTH?
On your journey back to Earth, you decide to think about the things you’ve learned about in your
exploration of the universe. You start to realize that there are many similarities among the
surface features of Earth and other celestial objects. To better understand what has caused the
features that you observed, you decide to take a closer look at Earth. In this investigation, we
will gather information about the structure of our planet.
Objective: When you have completed this investigation, you should be able to identify the layers of Earth in
order to describe the structure of Earth.
Activity 1: What Do You Think About Earth’s Structure?
1.
Think about what the Earth might look like if you cut it in half. Make a labeled diagram of what you
think the structure of Earth might be.
2.
Share your diagram with at least one other student.
3.
Identify one similarity and one difference in your diagrams.
S:
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D: _____________________________________________________________
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Activity 2: Gather Information
In order to understand how Earth is a part of a larger system and to compare Earth to other celestial objects,
you must first understand the structure of Earth.
4.
Examine the information on the resource cards provided by the teacher.
5.
Discuss the information with your group members. How do you think it all relates?
6.
Identify the pages your will use to gather the information.
Pages: _____________________________________________
7.
Read the sections on temperature and pressure.
8.
Identify a pattern that exists among depth, pressure, and temperature of the Earth’s layers. Use
evidence from the text to support your response.
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9.
Read the information about the layers of the Earth. Label your resource cards as you read.
10. Complete chart 1, “Layers of the Earth,” using the information from the resource cards and class
discussion.
11. Explain why parts of the upper mantle (lithosphere) are solid-like while parts of the asthenosphere are
liquid-like. Use evidence from the text to support your response.
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Analysis
1.
Review the diagram that you made in Activity 1.
2.
Determine the accuracy of your diagram. Use evidence from the text to support your response. Also,
you must include an accurate drawing of the layers of the earth with each layer correctly labeled.
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Layers of the Earth
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3.
Identify the following as characteristics of the crust, mantle, outer core, or inner core.
______________ a. Contains the highest mountains and the deepest oceans.
_________________ b. Is sometimes considered to be “plastic-like” because it acts like both a liquid and
a solid.
_________________ c. Solid crystalline structure made of iron and nickel.
_________________ d. Made entirely of molten liquid iron and nickel.
_________________ e. Contains rocks and minerals.
4. Identify two changes that occur inside the Earth as the depth increases.
a. _________________________________________________________________________
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b. _________________________________________________________________________
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Layer of the Earth
Thickness of
Layer
Chart 1:
Layers of the Earth
Phase
Temperatures
(solid/liquid)
Characteristics and Other Facts
CRUST
Lithosphere:
MANTLE
Asthenosphere:
INNER
CORE
Teacher Resource Sheet ESS - 15
ESS - 110
OUTER
CORE