Lesson details
Key learning points
- Earth is a spherical, rocky planet with a thin crust, partially covered in water.
- Under Earth’s crust is a dense rocky layer, called the mantle.
- In the centre of Earth is a solid metallic core surrounded by a liquid outer core.
- Temperature and pressure increases towards the centre of Earth, making the inner core extremely hot and solid.
- Scientists use models to better understand phenomena, including Earth's structure.
Keywords
Crust - The rocky, outermost layer of Earth.
Mantle - A layer of dense rock found below the crust. Parts of it behave as a fluid over very long, geological time scales.
Outer core - The outer core is a liquid layer of mostly iron and nickel that lies between the mantle and inner core.
Inner core - The inner core is a solid ball of mostly iron that lies at the centre of Earth, within the outer core.
Model - Used by scientists to represent parts of the natural world that are difficult to observe or explain directly.
Common misconception
Pupils struggle to appreciate the relative scales between each layer and features of the mantle.
Use common models (boiled egg or an orange) to stress the relative sizes and use multiple demonstrations to model features of the mantle.
Equipment
None required.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which planet is Earth in the order from the Sun?
Q2.Earth’s surface is mostly covered by .
Q3.What shape is Earth?
Q4.Which of the following states of matter has a definite volume but no definite shape?
Q5.The of a material determines how much space it takes up.
Q6.A scientific is a representation of a part of the natural world that is difficult to observe directly.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the following key terms to their definition.
The rocky, outermost layer of Earth.
A layer of dense rock found below the crust.
A liquid layer of mostly iron and nickel.
A solid ball of mostly iron that lies at the centre of Earth.