5 Layers of the Earth Activities for Your 5th Graders

Looking for Layers of the Earth activities for your 5th graders?

Earth science is a FUN unit that students always love, so if you’re in a rut with finding new activities, I hope you’ll find some new ideas here.

I think the trick to Earth science is to make everything as hands-on as possible!

But… hands-on activities can often be a lot more work and prep, and teachers have SO MUCH on their plate already.

I put together some activities that are low on prep time so that you can focus on teaching and not prepping a million activities.

Keep reading to learn all about these Earth layer activities!

Don’t forget to grab your FREE Reason for the Seasons craft below 🙂

Layers of the Earth Activities

Idea #1: Make a clay model

Students will literally create a model of the Earth!

Pass out 4 colors of Play-Doh or modeling clay to students (or you could also do this in partners!).

Students will divide the Clay balls into outer core, inner core, mantle, and Earth’s crust.

Who doesn’t love a little clay fun 🙂

Idea #2: Make it colorful layers of the Earth activities

Looking for a concrete worksheet that is actually fun for students?

These Layers of the Earth color-by-number worksheets are absolutely the PERFECT choice for your classroom and 5th-grade students!

How do they work?

Kids first answer questions on Earth’s layers.

Each question’s answer choice dictates a color next to it (like green, red, blue, etc.).

Students will color the coded picture based on the answer that they choose.

These Layers of the Earth color-by-number worksheets set come with the following:

• • 1 Earth’s layers worksheet reading a reading passage and comprehension questions on layers of the Earth
  • 1 Earth’s layers worksheet matching a vocabulary word to a definition (crust, mantle, outer core, inner core) then labeling the layers on a diagram
  • 1 Earth’s layers worksheet matching a vocabulary word to a definition (crust, mantle, outer core, inner core, lithosphere, convection current, plates)
  • 2 Earth’s layers worksheets identifying the layer of the Earth described in a phrase

Click HERE to snag these color-by-number worksheets!

Idea #3: Make it tasty

Whenever I can incorporate food into a lesson – I say go for it!

Nothing is as engaging as food (seriously… nothing).

This one is probably the most prep work out of all the activities, but still not too much involved.

HOWEVER, this one does not need to be expensive!

A couple of weeks before you do the activity, ask for parent donations (you can also pick up all the food at the Dollar Store if you don’t think parents would donate).

All you need are cups (see through cups work best, but even opaque cups are fine as long as you talk about each layer) and a variety of food items.

The food can be literally anything – different types of cereal, pudding, cookies, marshmallows- whatever you can easily get!

Students will layer the food in cups to represent each of the four layers.

That’s it! Students will love this activity because… well… it’s yummy!

And they’ll be sure to remember each layer of the Earth 🙂

Idea #4: Make it a skit

Your 5th graders will love this activity (and it’s literally zero prep work for you… woohoo!).

Put students into groups and have them act out and create a skit to teach or demonstrate the layers of the Earth.

Sounds like not a lot of directions… right?

You’ll be surprised at how creative students get with little instructions 🙂

5th graders are so smart and clever, they will thrive with this activity!

After about 30 minutes, have students act out the skits in class!

Idea #5: Make it digital

Technology instantly engages kids!

Your class will LOVE Layers of the Earth for Google Classroom!

Students will interact with layers of the Earth using drag-and-drop resources, short answers, and independent web searches.

This digital resource also includes reading passages so that your students will have background knowledge on the topic.

This product includes:

• Editable reading passages
• Short answer: KWL chart
• Drag-&-drop: match the descriptions to crust, mantle, outer core, or inner core
• Drag-&-drop: label the layers of the Earth
• Short answer: label the layers of the Earth
• Independent web search: fill out basic information about layers of Earth using a given website (thickness, made of what metals, temperature range, liquid or solid)
• Independent web search: answer questions using a given website
• Short answer: identify the layer of the Earth described in a riddle

This interactive digital resource can be used independently, or whole group if you project it onto a screen!

Click HERE to snag Layers of the Earth for Google Classroom!

Need more LAYERS OF THE EARTH activities and resources?

I have many layers of the Earth resources available at Glitter in Third on TPT.

Click the links below to check them out:

• Layers of the Earth color-by-number worksheets
• Layers of the Earth interactive notebook
• Layers of the Earth for Google Classroom

Want a FREE rotation & revolution activity?

I have a FUN craft to help your students understand the Earth’s revolution.

The best part?

It’s FREE!

Fill out the information below to send this FREEBIE immediately to your inbox!

You can also read more about rotation and revolution activities in my blog post HERE.