• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Menu
  • Science Experiments For Kids
  • Science Fair Projects
  • Preschool Science
  • Science Facts
  • Printable Experiments
  • Science Sparks Books
  • Science Questions
  • Contact Me
Science Experiments for Kids
Menu
  • STEM Challenges
  • Early Years Science
    • Preschool Science
    • Sensory and Messy Play
    • Understanding of the World
    • Pirate Science Experiments
  • Primary Science
    • Baking Soda Experiments
    • Candy Experiments
    • Biology
    • Climate Change for Kids
    • Coding for Kids
    • Chemistry
    • Electricity for Kids
    • Magic Science Experiments
    • Harry Potter Experiments
    • Human Body Science
    • Air Pressure Experiments
    • Life Cycles
    • LEGO Science Experiments
    • Kitchen Science
    • Famous Scientists
    • Forces and Motion
    • Science Sparks Snippets
    • Key Stage 1 Science
      • Animals
      • Everyday Materials
      • Plants
      • Coding Activities
      • Humans and Health
      • Fine Motor skills
      • Science and Literacy
    • Key Stage 2 Science
      • Animals, Including Humans
      • Electricity
      • Light
      • Plants
      • Materials and their Properties
  • Key Stage 3
  • Holiday Science
    • Christmas Science
    • Halloween Science
    • Easter Science
  • Storybook Themed Science Experiments
  • Wonderful Women in STEM
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • FREE Experiments
  • Science for Kids
    • Kitchen Science
    • Climate Change
    • Egg Experiments
    • Fairy Tale Science
    • Edible Science
    • Human Health
    • Chemistry
    • Inspirational Women
    • Forces and Motion
  • Science Fair Projects
  • STEM Challenges
  • Science Sparks Books
  • Contact Science Sparks
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Primary Science » Key Stage 1 Science » What is inside the Earth?

    What is inside the Earth?

    February 2, 2015 By Emma Vanstone 1 Comment

    Following on from our solar system themed activities is this easy layers of the Earth model made with play dough. My 7 year old wasn’t very impressed when I showed him my composition of the Earth model, but once I carved it open declared it to be ‘quite cool’. It’s not perfect and not really to scale ( the play dough was quite squishy, but clearly shows the inner core ( marble ), outer core ( orange ), mantle ( yellow) and crust ( green ).

    Five minutes later everyone was wrapping play dough around a marble trying to copy my Earth model, so I think it was a success and a fun way to show children what’s inside the Earth.

    Play dough model of the Earth - space science for kids demonstrating what is inside the Earth.

    Layers of the Earth Model

    Composition of the Earth

    Earth’s Inner Core

    Did you know the inner core is a huge metal ball about 2500 kilometers wide. The metal stays solid because of a massive amount of pressure surrounding it.

    Temperature: 5,000°C – 6,000°C

    State: Solid

    Composition: iron and nickel

    Earth’s Outer Core

    Did you know the liquid outer core 5150 kilometers deep and it’s the movement of the metals in this layer that create the Earth’s magnetic field.

    Temperature: 4,000°C – 6,000°C

    State: Liquid

    Composition: iron, nickel, sulphur and oxygen

    Mantle – the mantle is actually split into two parts.

    Earth’s Lower Mantle

    The lower mantle is found between 670km and 2,890km below the Earth’s surface.

    Temperature: 3,000°C

    State: solid

    Composition of the lower mantle: iron, oxygen, silicon, magnesium and aluminium

    Earth’s Upper Mantle

    The upper mantle is 670km below the surface of the Earth. The rock here is stiffer than the lower mantle because it is not as hot.

    Temperature: 1,400°C – 3,000°C

    State: liquid / solid

    Composition of the Upper Mantle: iron, oxygen, silicon, magnesium and aluminium

    Earth’s Crust

    Temperature: Around 22°C

    State: Solid

    Composition of the Earth: Oceanic crust ( beneath the ocean bed )made up of iron, oxygen, silicon, magnesium and aluminium.

    Continental crust ( land ) made up of granite, sedimentary rocks and metamorphic rocks.

    Image taken from This Is Rocket Science

    Play dough layers of the Earth model  composition of the Earth #spacescience #scienceforkids #EarthScience #earthlayers

    More space science experiments for kids

    Find out how the Universe is always expanding, make film canister rockets, straw rockets and lots more space science activities in this collection of space experiments designed for World Space Week.

    Space Science Experiments for kids - science for kids #spacescience #sciencesparks

    I’ve also got a FREE downloadable space experiment pack that I used for a special space week in school full of even more great space science experiments for kids.

    I also have a space science book with 70 space themed activities and investigations taking kids into space, around the solar system and back home again all while learning about the forces and obstacles astronauts must overcome for a successful trip.

    Last Updated on September 28, 2020 by Emma Vanstone

    « Chromatography Butterflies – Science Craft
    Sea Pollution »

    Safety Notice

    Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

    These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cait FItz @ My Little Poppies

      February 04, 2015 at 1:59 am

      I love this! My son is actually learning about rocks and minerals and Earth’s core right now. This is perfect, thank you.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    What are you looking for?

    JOIN US!

    Get new experiments straight into your inbox every week!!

    Thank you!

    You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

    .

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Science Sparks - FREE science experiments for kids

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Services
    • Media Kit
    • FAQ

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Science Sparks - Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd