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Science lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 60 minutes

The structure of the Earth

Earth and rocks

CCSS NGSS.MS-ESS2-1CCSS NGSS.MS-ESS2-3England: KS3 Chemistry: Earth and atmosphere (composition of the Earth)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: The structure of the Earth.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks

Leads to: Plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes; Seismic waves as evidence for Earth's layers

Materials: Rock samples, Hand lenses, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What type of rock is chalk? (igneous / sedimentary / metamorphic) → sedimentaryPrompt: Did it form from cooled magma, from layers of sediment, or from heat and pressure changing another rock?
  2. Which of these rocks is metamorphic? (basalt / sandstone / gneiss / chalk) → gneissPrompt: Look for clues: interlocking crystals, layers of grains, or bands made by pressure.
  3. Granite has large crystals but basalt has tiny ones. Why? (Granite contains fossils / Basalt was crushed / Granite cooled slowly underground; basalt cooled quickly at the surface / Granite is younger) → Granite cooled slowly underground; basalt cooled quickly at the surfacePrompt: Crystals have more time to grow when cooling is slow.

Hook · 6 min

  • Pass round different rocks and ask how each one might have formed.
  • Share the objective: The structure of the Earth. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which layer of the Earth is liquid?
  • Step 1: The outer core is liquid iron and nickel; the inner core is solid.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: the outer core
  • Answer: the outer core
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. What is the Earth's core mainly made of? (iron and nickel / gold / water / rock and soil) → iron and nickelPrompt: It is metallic and very dense.
  2. Earth's structure: which statement is NOT true? (Temperature increases as you go deeper into the Earth. / The crust is made of rock. / The mantle is the thickest layer. / The crust is the thickest layer.) → The crust is the thickest layer.Prompt: Is the mantle really a sea of liquid?

You do: independent practice · 17 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 4 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. How do scientists know about the inside of the Earth? (By studying how earthquake waves travel through it / By visiting the core / By looking at the Moon / By drilling to the centre) → By studying how earthquake waves travel through itPrompt: The deepest hole ever drilled is only about 12 km deep.
  2. Earth's structure: which statement is NOT true? (The Earth is hollow. / The inner core is solid. / Temperature increases as you go deeper into the Earth. / The crust is made of rock.) → The Earth is hollow.Prompt: Is the mantle really a sea of liquid?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
  • Use concrete materials: rock samples.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes; Seismic waves as evidence for Earth's layers.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-6.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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The structure of the Earth

Name

Date

Score/ 4

  1. Question 1

    Which layer of the Earth is liquid?

    • A. the outer core
    • B. all of them
    • C. the crust
    • D. the inner core

  2. Question 2

    Earth's structure: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. The mantle is the thickest layer.
    • B. The inner core is solid.
    • C. Temperature increases as you go deeper into the Earth.
    • D. The Earth is hollow.

  3. Question 3

    What is the Earth's core mainly made of?

    • A. rock and soil
    • B. water
    • C. gold
    • D. iron and nickel

  4. Question 4

    Which is the thinnest layer of the Earth?

    • A. the crust
    • B. the mantle
    • C. the outer core
    • D. the inner core

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Answer key: The structure of the Earth

  1. 1. A. the outer core

  2. 2. D. The Earth is hollow.

  3. 3. D. iron and nickel

  4. 4. A. the crust