Layers of the CrustLayers of the Crust

Hillary ByersHillary Byers

Gena Camerlengo Gena Camerlengo

Nora JenningsNora Jennings

Faith MulachFaith Mulach

ActivityActivity

Grade level: 2-3Grade level: 2-3 After learning about the layers of the Earth, After learning about the layers of the Earth,

students will build a model of the Earth’s crust students will build a model of the Earth’s crust with food. There are many layers of the earth’s with food. There are many layers of the earth’s crust, which are in turn made up of different crust, which are in turn made up of different types of rock. Students will learn what each layer types of rock. Students will learn what each layer of the sandwich represents and then learn how of the sandwich represents and then learn how the earth’s crust is developed and what the earth’s crust is developed and what materials have combined to form it. materials have combined to form it.

MaterialsMaterials Stack of paper plates Stack of paper plates Plastic knives Plastic knives Dark rye bread Dark rye bread Light brown bread Light brown bread White bread White bread Crunchy peanut butter Crunchy peanut butter White icing with M & M's White icing with M & M's Materials to sketch and label the sandwich (left side: Materials to sketch and label the sandwich (left side:

names of food, right side: names of rocks and names of food, right side: names of rocks and characteristics) characteristics)

Pictures of different layers of rocks, such as in the Grand Pictures of different layers of rocks, such as in the Grand Canyon Canyon

The Earth’s CoreThe Earth’s Core

The core is at the The core is at the center of the Earthcenter of the Earth

The center is solid The center is solid The outer layer is so The outer layer is so

hot it is moltenhot it is molten

The MantleThe Mantle

Thick shell of rock Thick shell of rock surrounding the outer surrounding the outer corecore

It is flexible, allowing It is flexible, allowing it to bendit to bend

Makes up most of the Makes up most of the Earth’s massEarth’s mass

The CrustThe Crust

Earth’s hard outer Earth’s hard outer shellshell

Light and brittleLight and brittle It is cooler and more It is cooler and more

rigid than the core rigid than the core and mantleand mantle

Layers of the Earth’s CrustLayers of the Earth’s Crust11stst layer layer

Paper Plate=GranitePaper Plate=Granite Igneous rockIgneous rockLaid down billions of years agoLaid down billions of years agoMuch thicker than any other layerMuch thicker than any other layerCannot be drilled throughCannot be drilled through

22ndnd Layer Layer

White Bread=SandstoneWhite Bread=SandstoneThe sandstone layer was formed by a riverThe sandstone layer was formed by a riverOver time the river erodes the bedrock Over time the river erodes the bedrock

and forms small pieces of sandand forms small pieces of sandThe sand sticks together and forms The sand sticks together and forms

sandstone at the bottom of the riversandstone at the bottom of the river

33rdrd Layer Layer

Crunchy Peanut Butter=ConglomerateCrunchy Peanut Butter=ConglomerateThere was a great flood and mud and There was a great flood and mud and

rocks were deposited over the sandstonerocks were deposited over the sandstoneOver time the mud and rocks formed a Over time the mud and rocks formed a

sedimentary rocksedimentary rock

44thth Layer Layer

Light Brown Bread=ShaleLight Brown Bread=ShaleThe river carried small pieces of rock The river carried small pieces of rock

called siltcalled siltOver time the river slowed down and then Over time the river slowed down and then

silt gathered together and became shalesilt gathered together and became shale

55thth Layer Layer

Icing + M&Ms=Fossilized LimestoneIcing + M&Ms=Fossilized LimestoneAt this point in time an ice age endedAt this point in time an ice age endedThe glaciers melted and oceans rose The glaciers melted and oceans rose

causing water to cover what was causing water to cover what was previously landpreviously land

66thth Layer Layer

Dark Brown Bread=TopsoilDark Brown Bread=TopsoilCovers the rock layers many long years Covers the rock layers many long years

after the ocean and river have after the ocean and river have disappeared and the rock layers rose updisappeared and the rock layers rose up

Earthquakes and moving plates can cause Earthquakes and moving plates can cause the layers to risethe layers to rise

Examples of rock layersExamples of rock layers

Academic Content StandardsAcademic Content Standards By the end of grades 3-5 be able to summarize By the end of grades 3-5 be able to summarize

the processes that shape Earth’s surface and the processes that shape Earth’s surface and describe evidence of those processes:describe evidence of those processes: Compare distinct properties of rocks.Compare distinct properties of rocks. Observe and investigate that rocks are often found in Observe and investigate that rocks are often found in

layers.layers. Describe that smaller rocks come from the breakdown Describe that smaller rocks come from the breakdown

of larger rocks through the actions of plants and of larger rocks through the actions of plants and weather.weather.

Observe and describe the composition of soil.Observe and describe the composition of soil. Investigate the properties of soil.Investigate the properties of soil. Investigate that soils are often found in layers and can Investigate that soils are often found in layers and can

be different from place to place.be different from place to place.

ResourcesResourcesS. Olesik, WOW Project, Ohio State S. Olesik, WOW Project, Ohio State

University, 2000. University, 2000. http://http://www.wow.osu.edu/experiments/geology/ewww.wow.osu.edu/experiments/geology/ebmf.htmlbmf.html

http://www.wow.osu.edu/experiments/geolhttp://www.wow.osu.edu/experiments/geology/ebmf.htmlogy/ebmf.html

http://www.seismo.unr.edu/ftp/pub/louie/clhttp://www.seismo.unr.edu/ftp/pub/louie/class/100/interior.htmlass/100/interior.html