Use clear drinking cups and an assortment of dessert items to create parfaits that illustrate the layers of the earth. To begin the activity, discuss with students what the layers of the earth are and where they are located in relation to the others. Give each student a clear cup. Place a scoop of vanilla ice cream in each cup to represent the core. Invite students to tell you what layer the ice cream represents. Next, place a layer of chocolate syrup to represent the outer core. Use sprinkles to represent the mantle and whipped cream to represent the crust. Review the layers and allow your students to eat their representations. Make sure your students do not have food allergies before doing this activity.
Gather four different colors of clay to complete this activity. Give each student a small amount of the first color. Ask them to roll the clay into a ball to represent the core. Pass out your second color and ask your students to flatten it and wrap it around the core. Repeat the process for the mantle and the crust. Circulate the room and cut each student's ball in half so they are able to see the four layers inside. Review what each layer is. Allow the clay balls to dry before sending them home with your students.
Review the layers of the earth with your class. Divide your class into groups of three or four students. Provide each group with four different colors of butcher paper. Invite your students to create large three-dimensional representations of the layers of the earth using the colored paper. Allow your students to be creative in their representations. Check out books about the earth from your school or local library. Ask your students to look through them as a group and write three or four facts about each layer on their large representation. Allow each group to share their completed project with the rest of the class.
Use your students to represent the layers of the earth. To prepare, move the desks to the edges of your classroom so you have a large open area. Alternatively, take your class to the gym or outside to complete the activity. Choose one student to stand in the center of the classroom. He will become the inner core. Select four or five students to form a circle around him to represent the outer core. Have several more students form a circle to become the mantle, and several more to become the crust. Repeat the activity to allow students to switch roles.