Let's build the earth!

STANDARD 3200-02 Students will compare and contrast the structure of Earth’s
crust and interior.

OBJECTIVE 3200-0201 Construct and defend a model of Earth’s crust and interior.

Intended Learning Outcomes:

2g.Construct models and simulations to describe and explain natural phenomena.
5c. Understand science concepts and principles.

Background:
Students should know that the earth is made of layers, the crust, mantle, and core. See "How many licks does it take to get to the center?" for further reference.

Summary: The students will learn about the structure of the earth by building a human earth.

Materials:

• Slips of paper with inner core, outer core, deep mantle, asthenosphere, and lithosphere/crust
• A large open area
  

Procedure:

1. Copy the following words onto separate slips of paper and put them into a hat or container for students to draw out. Have each student draw out a part they are to play. Adjust the numbers to fit the size of your class. This is for 30 students.

Inner core (1)

Outer core (3)

Deep mantle (6)

Asthenosphere (8)

Lithosphere/Crust(12)

2. Using the information below, explain what each part does. Let the students practice any sounds or movements for their part.
3. Next take the kids to a large open area and build the earth from the inside out
4. Have the student playing the part of the inner core flex his or her muscles or pretend to lift weights and stand in the center of the area. Tell the students that this represents the inner core, which is very dense and solid metal.
5. Next have the outer core kids form a circle around the inner core. They should face in toward the inner core. Then have them walk counterclockwise around the inner core while holding their arms out to the sides and waving them up and down. Tell the students this represents the fact that the outer core is liquid and moving.
6. Then have the students playing the deep mantle join hands to form a circle around the outer core. Have them chant, "hot rock, hot rock, hot rock."
7. Have the asthenosphere students surround the deep mantle. Have them sway their bodies back and forth to represent the movement that occurs in this layer.
8. Finally, have the lithosphere/crust students form a circle around the entire rest of the earth. Have them face outward and slowly walk around the rest of the earth.