|

Step-by-Step: Model of Earth’s Layers

Home Science Tools Banner
* This post may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. *

Did you like this article? If so, please help by sharing it!

Today, while Brianna works on a paper mache cutaway model of the earth, the younger kids will be making paper models. I made a sample this weekend to show them what we’re going for. It was easy enough and I think it will be enjoyable for the younger kids.

Supplies for Making a Model of Earth’s Layers

  • an Earth outline (scroll down for the Earth coloring page)
  • five colors of construction paper
  • crayons or colored pencils
  • scissors (or, if you have it, the Creative Memories Cutting System circles work fabulously for this)
  • glue

How to Make a Simple Model of Earth’s Layers

Step 1: Cut out and color the Earth coloring page.

Step 2: Cut out the first construction paper circle the same size as the Earth circle. Then, cut out the remaining four circle in gradually smaller sizes.

construction paper model of earth's layers

Step 3: Glue the largest shape to the back of the Earth sheet. Then, glue the next largest shape and so on until they’re all glued.

simple model of earth's layers

Step 4 (optional): Label each layer: crust, upper mantle, lower mantle, outer core and inner core.

(Note: Most websites I’ve seen combine the upper and lower mantle and simply call it the mantle, giving the Earth four layers, rather than five. Our science text, Christian Kids Explore Earth and Space, lists them separately. I would recommend going with whatever your particular science text has.)

Alternate: You could do a cutaway picture of the layers by gluing the layers as stated above, then, cut out 1/4 of the Earth page and glue it over all of the construction paper layers, rather than on the back of the largest one.

+ posts

Kris Bales is a newly-retired homeschool mom and the quirky, Christ-following, painfully honest founder (and former owner) of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She has a pretty serious addiction to sweet tea and Words with Friends. Kris and her husband of over 30 years are parents to three amazing homeschool grads. They share their home with three dogs, two cats, a ball python, a bearded dragon, and seven birds.

Did you like this article? If so, please help by sharing it!

12 Comments

  1. This looks a lot less sticky than the layer model we did last year involving rice crispies, peanut butter, cherries, and crushed cookies. It was fun, but it was bigtime messy LOL

    I noticed the seperation of the mantle into upper and lower in some texts and not in others…

    I wish I still had my bookmarks (using a different computer) because I had a few cute sites saved that applied to the earths layers…if I can find them again, I’ll leave you links.

  2. This was a perfect idea to read about here… my 3rd grader is in the process of putting together his first lap book, and he will definitely be including this in it. I’m sort of a newbie here at your blog and at blogging in general, and this blog is just chock full of woderful ideas. Thanks! ~ Maria
    https://www.pocketfulofbliss.blogspot.com

Leave a Reply

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

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.