Layers of the Earth - 6th Grade

Earth's Layers

Multiple Choice

Why is it important to understand the different layers of the Earth?

• Because it helps us predict weather patterns

• Because it helps us understand natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanoes

• Because it tells us about the history of dinosaurs

• Because it helps us find gold easily

​Earth's Crust

• The outermost layer of the Earth

  • Similar to the skin on an apple (thinnest layer)

• Made up of both continental (land) and oceanic crust (under the ocean)

• 5 - 50 km thick

​Oceanic Crust

• Thin layer of the crust that overlies the ocean basins.

• More DENSE than continental crust.

• Mostly made of basalt rock

• Thinner than continental crust (5-10 km)

• Younger (newer) than continental crust

​Continental Crust

• Layer of rock which forms the continents

• Less dense than oceanic crust

• Mostly made of Granite rock

• Thicker than oceanic crust

• Older than oceanic crust

​Question Time! Be ready!

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements best describes the oceanic crust?

• It is a thin, dense layer mostly made of basalt rock.

• It is thicker and less dense than continental crust.

• It is made mostly of granite and is older than continental crust.

• It is the innermost layer of the Earth.

• It is place were Spongebob lives

Multiple Choice

Which type of crust is less dense and mostly made of granite?

• Oceanic crust

• Continental crust

• Lithosphere

• Asthenosphere

Multiple Select

Select all properties that are true for both oceanic and continental crust.

• Part of Earth's crust

• Found on dinner plates

• Made up of solid material

• Location for Bikini Bottom

Multiple Choice

What is the thickness range of the Earth's crust?

• 5-50 km

• 100-200 km

• 1-5 km

• 50-100 km

​Lithosphere

• Solid outer section of the Earth, which includes the crust.

• Also, includes the cool, dense, rigid upper part of the mantle.

​Asthenosphere

• Solid part of the upper mantle

• Weaker, less rigid (plasticity, feels like silly putty)

• Crust (plates) moves over the platic like asthenosphere

• These plates crash into each other

Multiple Choice

Which layer of the Earth is described as solid, but less rigid and plastic-like, allowing the crust to move over it?

• Asthenosphere

• Lithosphere

• Outer Core

• Inner Core

Multiple Select

Based on the diagrams and descriptions, which of the following statements are true about the asthenosphere and lithosphere?

• The lithosphere is more rigid than the asthenosphere.

• The asthenosphere is part of the upper mantle.

• The lithosphere is located below the asthenosphere.

• The asthenosphere allows tectonic plates to move.

Mantle

• Largest layer of the Earth

  • Includes the Lithosphere and Asthenosphere.

• Under the crust, reaching a depth of abouth about 2,890 km.

• Made of silicate rocks rich in magnesium and iron.

• Intense heat causes the rocks to rise and then cool and sink (aka: convection currents).

• The process is called convection, which causes the crust to move.

• Average temperature = 3000 C

Multiple Choice

The layer that the lithosphere moves on is the _________________________.

• core

• asthenosphere

• lithosphere

• crust

Multiple Choice

The thickness of the mantle is about?

• 3,000 feet

• 3,000 kilometers

• 3,000 parsecs

• 3,000 meters

Multiple Choice

What process in the mantle causes the tectonic plates of the crust to move?

• Convection

• Radiation

• Conduction

• Evaporation

Dropdown

Intense heat in the mantle causes the rocks to​

Select answer

and then cool to ​

Select answer

. This process is called ​

Select answer

.

​Outer Core

• Liquid layer; 2,300 km thick,.

• Second largest layer after Mantle

• Composed of liquid iron and nickel

• Lies between inner core and mantle

• Because of the molten liquid moves around the inner core, Earth's amgnetic field is created.

• Average temperature: 5,000 Celsius.

Multiple Choice

What is the main reason Earth's magnetic field is created?

• Movement of molten liquid in the outer core

• Rotation of the crust

• Presence of water in the mantle

• Solar winds hitting the atmosphere

• Giant hamster on a giant hamster wheel

​Inner Core

• A solid ball of metal.

• 1,250 km thick

• Made of solid nickel and iron

• So hot it melts everything in the outer core.

• Spins at a speed faster than the Earth rotates

• Densest layer of the Earth

• Average temperature is 5,000-6,000 Celcsius

Multiple Choice

What is the average temperature range of the Earth's inner core?

• 1000-2000 degrees

• 2000-3000 degrees

• 5000-6000 degrees

• 7000-8000 degrees

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements about the Earth's inner core are correct?

• It is a solid ball of metal

• It is made of solid nickel and iron

• It is the densest layer of the Earth

• It is cooler than the outer core

​Seismic waves

• waves of energy caused by earthquakes and other rock movement

• They travel through some layers of the earth

• recorded by seismographs.

• Seismic waves are used to determine which layers of the earth are solid or liquid.

• Some seismic waves cannot pass through certain layers giving us a clue to the layers composition.

Dropdown

The ​

Select answer

is the layer of rock between the Earth's crust and core.

Labelling

Identify the different types of crust and the names of the lower crust.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Outer core

Continental Crust

Oceanic crust

Lithosphere

Asthenosphere

Inner core

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements correctly matches the Earth's layers with their descriptions?

• The mantle is the largest layer of Earth full of molten rock.

• The inner core is a solid ball of metal that gets so hot it melts everything in the outer core.

• The outer core is composed of liquid iron and nickel and helps create Earth's magnetic field.

• The crust is the thinnest, outermost layer of Earth consisting of oceanic and continental parts.

Labelling

Label the layers of the Earth

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Middle Earth

jumanji

mantle

crust

outer core

inner core

Hotspot

Which point is the crust?

Hotspot

Click the layer of Earth where

convection currents occur!

Multiple Choice

What is the correct order (starting from the surface) of Earth's layers?

• crust, mantle, inner core, outer core
• mantle, outer core, inner core, crust
• inner core, outer core, mantle, crust
• crust, mantle, outer core, inner core

Multiple Choice

Why is it not appropriate to yell across the room at your friends in a classroom setting?

• Because it can disrupt others and is not respectful.

• Because it is the fastest way to communicate.

• Because everyone else is doing it.

• Because the teacher asked you to.