Layers of the Earth

Understanding Earth's layers connects children to the planet's structure and the forces that shape its surface—volcanoes, earthquakes, mountains.

• Framework: Montessori
• Unit: Cultural Studies
• Learning area: Geography
• Level: Ages 5-6

Objectives

• Learn Earth's internal structure
• Understand layer composition
• Build scientific vocabulary
• Develop scale comprehension

Materials

• Cross-section model of Earth
• Playdough in four colors
• Layer labels (crust, mantle, outer core, inner core)
• Nomenclature cards

Instructions

1. Present Earth model cross-section. 2. Identify layers from inside out: inner core, outer core, mantle, crust. 3. Discuss each: 'The inner core is solid metal, very hot!' 4. Build playdough model: start with small inner core ball. 5. Wrap with outer core color. 6. Add thick mantle layer. 7. Thin crust layer on outside. 8. Cut in half to see layers.

Educator tip

The relative thickness of layers matters—crust is thin like an apple skin! The playdough model makes scale tangible.

Assessment

Child names all four layers and describes basic characteristics of each.

More from Cultural Studies

• Cultural Cooking: Foods Around the World
• Simple Machines: Inclined Plane Exploration
• Music Appreciation: Instruments of the Orchestra
• Personal Timeline: History of Me
• Land, Air, and Water
• Sandpaper Globe
• Puzzle Map of the Continents
• Parts of the Flower