Internal Layers of Earth - Model Making and Hands on Application of Knowledge

 For our Unit of Inquiry about "Earth's Changes" we did many different activities and experiments related to learning about the internal structure of the earth, tectonic plates and natural disasters. We also briefly inquired into climate change and actions we can take to mitigate climate change. 

When we were learning about the interior of the earth, we watched two different videos, one of which was the SciShow Kids video "Could I Dig a Hole Through Earth?" 

After watching the two videos, I paused on a segment showing the different layers of the earth and we reviewed the names for the different layers. Then came the fun part! Students got to use clay to create their models of the earth, in pairs. When students were done, they placed the earth models to the side to dry.

Of course one might then ask the question, well what good is a model with layers when you cannot see the layers inside? Well, the next step, after the earth models were dry, was to take students to The Maker Space on a different day, where they used a saw, to cut the earth models open. 

So now students had a hands on visual, to reinforce what they learned. What came next was simply taking their model and the vocabulary, and drawing a labelled picture of The Earth and their model. Students were very engaged during this learning task!