Layers of the Earth

Lyrics

Chorus
Throw your hands up for the layers of the earth
Throw ‘em up for what’s below the surface
Throw your hands up, and let’s discuss
The inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust

Verse I
The layer we’ll discuss first
Is the central inner core, in the center of the earth
A solid ball buried below the dirt
We believe it’s primarily metallic iron

You could never take a trip to the inner core, right?
The heat will burn you up, 9,000º Fahrenheit
4,000 miles below the Earth’s crust
One down three to go y’all.

1,800 miles from the tip top
The outer core is hard at work and it don’t stop.
It’s busy spinning around the inner core, and listen,
This steady movement causes Earth’s magnetism.

Ranging from 4 to 9,000 degrees,
It contributes 1/5 of the heat flowin’ to you and me.
It’s liquid metals that violently flow
So let it settle… and when you’re ready let me know. Just…

Chorus

Verse II
The mantle layer is the largest of the class.
About half of our planet’s mass.
The mantel is composed of very hot dense rocks,
That move and flow, always on the go, they never lock,

Never stop, and they’re responsible for tectonic shift
Please believe the Earth’s plates are adrift
It’s pretty thick and the heat is awesome
1,600 at the top, 4,000 at the bottom

The continental crust’s surface is where we breathe
A lot of rock up to 25 miles deep.
The oceanic crust is next door
It’s 3-5 miles thick just below the ocean floor.

Earth’s surface: 70% H20.
Where do you get all that water? Salty sea flow,
fresh water’s in the glaciers, ice caps, and snow.

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Description

"Layers of the Earth" teaches the earth's layers, part of an earth science and geology curriculum. The song includes key facts about the inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust, helping students learn how many layers there are in the earth. By learning about the composition of the planet, students will better understand how it interacts with the atmosphere and other planetary components. The teaching materials at the bottom of the page, including layers of the earth diagrams, lesson plans, worksheets, and activities help scientists, teachers, and homeschool parents generate teaching ideas for the song topics. Students will become more effective at describing the earth’s layers.

This earth song for kids is suitable for teaching circulation to elementary school students (3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade), middle school, high school, home school, college, and medical school classes.

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Related Reading and Activities

Reading

A Virtual Journey into the Universe
The Planet Earth
This website provides a detailed summary of the earth’s layers. Colorful and impressive with information.
Grades 3-12

Kids.gov
Earth Science
This is a list of suggested government websites for learning more about the science of earth and our land. There is a lot of information on a wide variety of topics.
Grades 1-8

Thinkquest
Earth’s Structure
This site describes the inside of the earth layer by layer and provides a diagram. It also provides links to excellent sources for further study of plate tectonics, formation of the earth and other earth-related topics.
Grades 3-12

Lesson Plans & Activities

ABCTeach
Layers of Earth
This worksheet has large blank spaces next to a diagram of the earth’s layers so that students can fill it in. Very adaptable to additions to the diagram if more detail is desired. Great for young students or as introduction to study of earth.
Grades 1-5

Discovery Education
Tales of Terrain
These lesson plans go beyond basic understanding of the earth’s layers, and discusses drifts, volcanoes, landforms, and more. The activities include applying the themes to novels such as Treasure Island or Call of the Wild.
Grades 6-8

My Science Box
Journey Through Earth
This section of the website is broken into 5 subsections, each with activities and summaries about the layers of the earth. Lot of information, activities and related topics. Multiple grade levels as well.
Grades 3-12

The New York Times Learning Network
Solid as a Rock: An In-Depth Exploration into the Layers of the Earth
In this lesson, students will learn about and create models of the earth’s layers, and then synthesize their learning by writing short stories about journeys to the center of the earth.
Grades 6-8, 9-12

Media

Passport to Knowledge (P2K)
TakeAim at Climate Change
This clever music video produced by RRR and Polar Palooza for P2K addresses issues concerning global warming with catchy informative lyrics and National Geographic film footage of Antarctica. Site also has printed lyrics, downloads and good information. Unique and a great way to start any study of earth science. Suitable for all grades.
Grades 1-12

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State Standards

State standards listed here are representative of school standards across the United States.

California

5th – 6th Grades
5#3 - Know most of Earth’s water is salt water in oceans, which cover most of Earth’s surface.
61b - Earth is composed of several layers: a cold, brittle lithosphere; a hot, convecting mantle; and a dense, metallic core.

Florida

7th Grade
SC.7.E.6.1 - Describe layers of solid Earth, including lithosphere, hot convecting mantle, dense metallic liquid and solid cores.

Illinois

3rd Grade
12.E.1a - Identify components and describe diverse features of the Earth’s land, water and atmospheric systems.
12.F.1a - Identify and describe characteristics of the sun, Earth and moon as familiar objects in the solar system.

Massachusetts

6th – 8th Grades
#2 Structure of Earth subcategory - Layers of the earth include the lithosphere, mantle, and core.

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