Curated OER
Building for the Big One
Students build and test structures that can best withstand earthquakes. They create their structures from playdough, cornstarch, grape-nuts and popsicle sticks and place their structures on a "shake table."
Curated OER
The Science Behind Tsunamis
Natural disasters can be teachable moments that create more scientifically literate citizens.
Curated OER
My Science Box: Seafloor Spreading
Students examine the movement of plate tectonics. In this lesson on the spreading of the seafloor, students use maps and models to observe how the sea floor spreads.
Curated OER
The Volcano Factory
Students examine the process of tectonic plates and why the Mariana Arc is active with volcanoes. They create a model of the Mariana Arc out of clay.
Curated OER
Volcano! Is That a Volcano on Your Plate?
Students investigate where volcanos come from. For this volcano lesson, students watch videos do Internet research and participate in experiments to discover the cause of volcanos.
Curated OER
Where to Live?
Students examine types of spatial data found in a GIS. In this geography instructional activity students use a GIS to facilitate analysis and decision making.
Curated OER
Changes Inside Planets
High schoolers investigate the concept of planetary differentiation. They complete an experiment to simulate it using gelatin and food. The lesson includes vocabulary to increase reading comprehension skills as part of the inquiry. The...
Oregon State University
Osu: Volcano World: Layers of the Earth
This is a website not only on the mantle but also about all the layers of the earth.
BBC
Bbc Future: Journey to the Centre of the Earth
Explore deep underground and deep in the ocean to discover what lies beneath the surface. Don't stop until the final destination: the core of the Earth.
US Geological Survey
Usgs: The Interior of the Earth
This site provides a detailed discussion of the Earth's interior. Facts about the crust, mantle, and core are given along with diagrams of each. Also presents a table that lists the thickness and types of rock found in each part of the...
Purdue University
Purdue University: Earth's Interior Structure
Purdue University provides a great lesson plan for learning about the Earth's interior structure. Focuses on the crust, mantle and core. Also includes examples and great charts that students will enjoy looking at.
The Tech Interactive
Tech Museum of Innovation: Inside the Earth
As an overview of the online exhibit on earthquakes, this site discusses the various sections inside the Earth. The crust, the mantle, and the core are each individually discussed.
Other
Spacetech's Orrery: Earth Our Home Planet
This site provides a very interesting overview of our home planet, Earth. Content includes a focus on the atmosphere, the pull of gravity, and the active surface.
Columbia University
Columbia University: Evidence for Internal Earth Structure and Composition
This resource describes how seismic waves have helped us to understand the composition of the Earth's interior. It discusses seismic discontinuities, including the Mohorovicic Discontinuity or Moho, and what we have learned about the...
Other
Bscs: Content Background Earth's Changing Surface
This is written to support and further your content learning about the dynamic nature of Earth's surface. The goal is for you to develop a conceptual understanding of landforms so that you will be able to more effectively teach...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Earth's Layers
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Identifies the various layers of the Earth, including the crust, mantle, core, lithosphere, and asthenosphere.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Deeper Discovery: Earth's Anatomy
Interactive site provides information on each layer of the earth. Click on a layer to discover more about it.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Earth's Interior Study Guide
This comprehensive study guide covers the main terms and concepts needed for an earth science unit on the earth's interior. Review questions are included at the bottom of the study guide.
NOAA
Noaa: Structure of the Earth [Pdf]
Create a model to help learn the layers and structures within the Earth. Identify characteristics of each layer of the Earth.
Libre Text
Libre Texts: Geochemistry: The Earth and Its Lithosphere
The Earth has been in a state of continual change since its formation. The major part of this change, involving volcanism and tectonics, has been driven by heat produced from the decay of radioactive elements within the Earth. The other...
Science Struck
Science Struck: The Four Main Layers of the Earth
Gives short descriptions of the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core.
PurposeGames
Purpose Games: Layers of the Earth
Players will test their knowledge of the layers of the Earth. Know terms such as core, crust, and upper and lower mantle.
National Geographic
National Geographic: Encyclopedia: Mantle
An in-depth look at the structure and composition of Earth's mantle, with lots of visuals. Covers lithosphere, Mohorovicic discontinuity, asthenosphere, transition zone, lower mantle, the d double-prime region, mantle convection, mantle...
Nine Planets
The Eight Planets: Earth
Excellent Eight Planets site that provides a vast amount of information about planet Earth. Very comprehensive and complete site.