As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.
This layers of the Earth poster for kids is a fun and educational way to learn about the layers that make up our planet. With a detailed and colorful illustration and a black and white version for coloring, kids can engage their creativity while exploring the mysteries of our planet’s structure.
What are the layers of the Earth….
Imagine if you could take a giant slice out of the Earth and look at it like a delicious cake. You would see that our planet is made up of different layers, just like a cake has different layers. Here’s a simple description of the layers of the Earth for elementary-aged students:
- Crust: The crust is the outermost layer of the Earth, and it’s like the frosting on a cake. It’s the layer we live on and where we find land, like continents and islands, as well as the ocean floor. It’s not very thick, about 5 to 40 kilometers (3 to 25 miles) deep, and is made up of solid rocks and soil.
- Mantle: Beneath the crust, we have the mantle, which is like the soft, squishy part of a cake. The mantle is much thicker than the crust, about 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) deep. It’s made of hot, solid rock that can flow very slowly over thousands of years. The mantle is responsible for movements in the Earth’s crust, like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
- Outer Core: Going deeper, we have the outer core, which is like the gooey, melted part of a cake. The outer core is made of hot, liquid metal, mostly iron and nickel. It’s about 2,200 kilometers (1,400 miles) thick and it’s really hot – even hotter than the surface of the Sun! The outer core is what creates the Earth’s magnetic field, which protects us from harmful radiation from space.
- Inner Core: Finally, at the center of the Earth, we have the inner core, which is like the solid, hard center of a cake. The inner core is about 1,220 kilometers (760 miles) in radius and it’s made of solid metal, mostly iron and nickel. Despite being so hot, the immense pressure at the center of the Earth keeps the inner core solid.
So, just like a cake has different layers with different properties, the Earth has layers too! From the crust, to the mantle, to the outer core, and all the way to the inner core, each layer plays an important role in shaping our planet.
Layers of the Earth poster….
This hand drawn full color poster is perfect for display or as an addition to a science notebook.
Full color illustrations of the surface of the Earth, the layers underneath, as well as definition of each of those make this such a valuable resource for your classroom!
Layers of the planet coloring page….
In addition to the full color layers of the Earth poster I’ve also included a black and white version perfect for students to color!
Do you want this free printable layers of the Earth poster….
You can get this hand drawn layers of the Earth poster and coloring page for free when you’re a Happy Printable subscriber.
Use the form below to sign up, confirm with your email, and you’ll have your free downloads in a snap.
As a subscriber you’ll receive my weekly digital newsletter. Never spam, just tons of free creative & free printable resources!
If you’re already a Happy Printable subscriber you can use the same form above to get your free layers of the Earth coloring page and poster. It’s a fast and easy way to get your download and you won’t receive multiple emails from me!
