When kids are learning about the different layers of the Earth, it can help to have a visual reference. If you’re looking for a fun, fast and easy Layers of the Earth craft, you can use the free template download in this article!
There are two different versions of this craft for you to use depending on your preferences. Version one is a Layers of the Earth coloring sheet, so children can color in the Earth’s crust as well as the other layers in various colors as they learn about them.
Version two is a cut paper Layers of the Earth craft. Children can cut out each template piece, trace them onto different colors of construction paper and then fasten them all together.
- Table Of Contents:
- Version 1 – Coloring Sheet Craft
- Version 2 – Cut Construction Paper Craft
- Benefits of This Earth Craft For Kids
- Earth Layers FAQs
- Final Thoughts
Version One Materials
- Template
- Colored pencils
- Scissors
- Fastener
Version One Instructions
Step 1)
Print and Cut the template pieces out
Step 2)
Color them one by one:
Color the upper mantle brown. Color the lower mantle red. Color the outer core orange. Color the core yellow.
Step 3)
Color the gray-shaded parts of the Earth green to represent the continents and color the remaining area that represents the oceans blue. Then cut along the dashed lines.
Step 4)
Lastly, attach the earth and the layers of the earth using a paper fastener.
Version 1 Video Instructions
Prefer video instructions for this craft? Check out our YouTube channel and watch the full tutorial for this Layers of the Earth Coloring Craft here.
Version One Template Download
Download your free PDF file template using the download button after this next image. This version requires students/children to use the templates like a coloring sheet.
Version Two Materials
- Template
- Construction paper
- Markers
- Scissors
- Fastener
Version Two Instructions
Step 1)
Print and cut out the templates.
Trace the layers of the earth onto colored construction paper. Brown for the upper mantle. Red paper for the lower mantle. Orange for the outer core. And use the smallest circle with yellow paper for the core.
Step 2)
Cut along the dashed lines in the Earth template.
Step 3)
Lastly, attach the Earth and the separate layers of the Earth using a paper fastener.
Version 2 Video Instructions
Prefer video instructions for this craft? Check out our YouTube channel and watch the full video tutorial for this cut paper Layers of the Earth craft here.
Version Two Template Download
Download your free PDF file template by using the button below this next image. This version uses multiple sheets of colored paper instead of asking students or children to color them in.
Benefits of This Earth Craft For Kids
Educational Insights:
Visualizing and coloring the different layers of the Earth is a fun way for children to grasp the basic concepts of geology and earth science in a hands-on manner. This interactive approach enhances their understanding of the Earth’s structure.
Fine Motor Skills Development:
The intricate details involved in coloring and cutting out the template pieces contribute to the development of fine motor skills in children. Handling small pieces, tracing lines, and carefully cutting along dashed lines all promote dexterity.
Sequential Task Completion:
Following the step-by-step instructions to print, cut, color, and assemble the layers of the Earth teaches kids the importance of sequencing and completing tasks in a logical order.
Patience and Concentration:
The craft encourages patience and concentration as children work through each step. Coloring within specific lines and carefully attaching the layers with a fastener help develop focus and attention to detail.
Practical Application of Knowledge:
By physically constructing the Earth’s layers, children move beyond theoretical knowledge and apply what they’ve learned in a tangible way. This hands-on experience reinforces their understanding of geological concepts by giving kids a visual representation of Earth’s layers.
Earth Layers FAQs
1. Crust:
The Earth’s crust is like a super cool skin that we live on. It’s the outermost layer and has all the mountains, oceans, and land where we play! It’s made of continental crust and oceanic crust as well as tectonic plates. This outer layer ranges in thickness depending on what part you’re looking at.
The oceanic crust is like the ocean’s floor. It’s about 5 to 10 kilometers (3 to 6 miles) thick. The continental crust is where we play and live and can vary widely but is typically in the range of 20 to 70 kilometers (12 to 43 miles) thick.
Tectonic plates are like huge puzzle pieces that make our Earth exciting and ever-changing. They can bump into each other, pull apart, or slide past each other.
2. Upper Mantle:
The next layer of planet Earth is the mantle. This is the thickest layer of the earth.
The upper mantle extends from the base of the Earth’s crust to a depth of about 660 kilometers (410 miles).
It is composed of solid rock that can flow over long periods of time, almost like a slow-moving conveyor belt. This flow is due to the high temperature and pressure deep within the Earth.
3. Lower Mantle:
The lower mantle extends from a depth of about 660 kilometers to approximately 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles), reaching the boundary with the outer core.
Similar to the upper mantle, the lower mantle is also composed of solid rock. However, the pressures and temperatures increase with depth, making the rock more rigid and less capable of flow compared to the upper mantle.
4. Outer Core:
This liquid outer core extends from a depth of about 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) to approximately 5,150 kilometers (3,200 miles).
The outer core is primarily composed of liquid iron and nickel. The high temperatures in this region keep these metals in a molten state. The movement of molten iron and nickel in the outer core generates the Earth’s magnetic field through a process called the geodynamo.
5. Inner Core:
The inner core is at the center of the Earth. Earth’s core is super-duper hot and solid, like a giant, glowing ball in the center that keeps our planet strong and steady. This solid inner core is the innermost layer and extends from a depth of about 5,150 kilometers to the center of the Earth, which is approximately 6,371 kilometers (3,959 miles) from the Earth’s surface.
Final Thoughts
This Earth’s Layers craft is not only a creative experience for kids but also a fantastic way to explore the wonders of our planet in a hands-on manner.
It’s a great craft for Earth day or for an earth science activity to enhance student learning and it provides a visually appealing and educational journey into the layers that make our Earth so special.
Stick around Crafty Kids Play for more fun activities, crafts for kids of all ages and more!
