Name_________________________________________ Date__________________________________ Period________
Earth’s Layers Lab
Objective: Students will be able to distinguish the key characteristics of each layer of the Earth.
Directions: Read through the procedure below. When the procedure asks a question, be sure to answer it using a
complete sentence. Remember, complete sentences begin with a capital letter, end in a period, and restate the question
in the answer.
Procedure:
1.) Using the maker provided at your lab table, label the following layers of Earth: crust, mantle, inner core, outer
core. Once you have labeled the diagram, fill out the table below:
Layer of Earth
Color of that layer on the diagram
Crust
Inner Core
Mantle
Outer Core
2.) Now, draw in the lithosphere and label it, using the marker at your table. What colors make up the lithosphere?
3.) Draw in the asthenosphere and label it, using the marker at your table. What colors make up the
asthenosphere?
4.) Using the marker, draw an arrow that shows increasing density. Hint: The point of the arrow should be located
in the densest layer of Earth. Record your observations in the table below. What is the most dense layer of
earth? What is the least dense?
Most Dense
Layer
Least Dense
Layer
5.) Look at the diagram of Earth’s layers. What layer is the thickest? What layer is the thinnest? Fill out the table
below to record this observation.
Thickest
Thinnest
6.) Now, you are going to read a series of words and phrases. It is your job to state which layer of Earth the word or
phrase describes. In the table below, fill out which layer of Earth each statement belongs to.
Word/Phrase
Layer of Earth
Where trees are
Liquid
Metal
Convection Cells
Convergent
boundaries
Thickest layer
Mountains
Lithosphere
Asthenosphere
Thinnest layer
7.) With a moist paper towel, wipe off the maker from the laminated sheet. Place the laminated sheet and the
marker back into the center of your lab table.