Layers of the Earth Lesson Plan

Caroline Reineke
Subject: Science
Grade Level: 6th
Topic: Layers of the Earth
TEKS:
Science.6.b.3.b.
(3) Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student uses critical thinking,
scientific reasoning, and problem solving to make informed decisions and knows
the contributions of relevant scientists. The student is expected to: (B) use
models to represent aspects of the natural world such as a model of Earth's
layers
ELPS:
c5G: Narrate, describe, and explain in writing
Teaching Content Objective:
The student will be able to label the 5 layers of the earth, and describe the
characteristics of each layer, labeling and describing 4/5 layers correctly.
Teaching Language Objective:
Given a model, the students will be able to state and write 4/5 layers of the
Earth.
Student Objective:
By the end of todays lesson, you will be able to label and describe the five
different layers of the earth.
Background Information:
Aware there are different levels
Knowledge of plate tectonics
Earth has a core
For Beginning and Intermediate ELLs, preteach vocabulary prior to lesson.
Also, show visual of the layers of the earth to let them begin thinking
about how the inside of the earth looks.
Vocabulary:

English Word:

Spanish Word:

Outer Core
Inner Core
Upper Mantle
Lower Mantle
Crust

ncleo externo
ncleo interno
Manto superior
manto inferior
corteza

Materials:
Foam ball
Paint
Toothpicks
Glue
Mini labels
Worksheet
Sharpie/markers
Guided notes page
SmartBoard
Resources:
http://www.learner.org/interactives/dynamicearth/structure.html
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Inside.shtml
Procedures:
1. Engage students
a. Give every student a gobstopper
b. Have students look at each others gobstoppers as they eat them,
observing them changing colors
c. Ask students what did you observe?
i. Ask what is happening to the gobstopper?, what do you
notice about the colors? how is this similar to the earth?
ii. Answer: There are different layers, just like the earth has
different layers! The gobstopper had many different layers,
but the earth only has 5 distinct layers.
1. Beginning: Students are expected to draw their
findings of the changes of the Gobstopper.
2. Intermediate: Students are expected to draw and
describe their observations of the Gobstopper in one
word.
3. Advanced: Students are expected to draw and
describe their observations of the Gobstopper in one
sentence.
4. Advanced High: Students are expected to draw and
describe their observations of the Gobstopper in two or
more sentences.
2. Begin guided notes power point
a. Stop occasionally checking for students understanding and making
sure they fill in notes
i. Have word bank for fill in the blanks in their packet
b. Go through each layer of the earth, describing the common
characteristics and contents of the layer, while filling in guided
notes

i. Ask students if they ever knew the earth has different layers?
ii. Ask students what layer of earth we live on?
iii. Monitor students filling in guided notes and encourage them
to use word bank to fill in the notes in English
3. Interactive Smart Board activity
a. Have 5 students come up to the board, and each one label a layer
of the earth in English and Spanish
b. Have students write these answers on their guided notes diagram in
both English and Spanish
4. Build earth model
a. Pass out materials to partners
i. Beginning: Work in groups of three with one English
speaking student and two ESL students
ii. Intermediate: Work in group of three with two English
speaking students and one ESL student
iii. Advanced: Work with partner, one ESL student and one
English speaking student
iv. Advanced High: Work with any partner
b. Show completed model to students
i. Labels have two sides, one side is English word and opposite
side is Spanish word
c. Walk around to monitor for understanding

d.
5. Assessment
a. Pass out assessment
i. Beginning: Directions in English & Spanish, with both
Spanish and English labels, but can write descriptions in
native language with two sentences per layer.
ii. Intermediate: Directions in Spanish, labels in both English
and Spanish, write description in English with two sentences
to describe each layer.
iii. Advanced: Directions in English, labels in both English and
Spanish, write description in English with at least three
sentences per layer.
iv. Advanced High: Directions in English, write description in
English with at least four sentences per layer.

Assessment:
Label layers of earth on personal diagram
Describe 3 layers of the earth in a paragraph with specific vocabulary and
descriptive words
Rationale:
Students will become aware of the layers of the earth and will expand
their scientific vocabulary

Name: _________________________________________
______________________

Date:

Layers of the Earth

Directions: Label the diagram below. Then pick three of the layers and
describe below.

1. ____________________;
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
2. ____________________;
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
3. ____________________;
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________