Egg as the Earth

 We started our home schooling journey mid school year, right at the beginning of the 3rd quarter. To ease the children into the learning we started part of our studies with volcanoes. To demonstrate the Earth, the little monkeys and I hard boiled some eggs. 

We learned that the Earth has different layers. These layers are made up of the Inner Core, Outer Core, Mantle, and Crust​. 

Clip art of the Earth courtesy of Classroom Clip Art. It is a great model of what the Earth is made of for each layer. 

The Different Layers:

Inner Core: 

• Is the center most part of the Earth
• It is solid, even though past scientist thought it was liquid, until Inge Lehmann proved that theory wrong in 1936.
• Unattached to the outer mantle
• Suspended in a molten outer core
• Inner core is believed to be 4982 Celsius
• Nickel alloy makes up the inner core
• Approximately 1500 miles wide
• About 3,200 to 3,900 miles from the Earth's surface
• Makes up 1.7% of the Earth's total mass

Outer Core:I

• 3700 Celsius
• Composed of iron and 10% sulfur (S) and/or oxygen. 
• Molten
• 30.8% of the Earth's mass
• Depth 1806-3200 miles from the Earth's surface
• The convection motion of the region, along with the rotation of the Earth creates an effect that maintains the magnetic field of the Earth. 

Mantle:

• Iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), aluminium (Al), silicon (Si), and oxygen (O)
• Made up of semi-molten rock called magma
• 67.3% of the Earth's mass
• Depth of 6 to 1806 miles
• 1,000 Celsius
• Convection in this region drives the plate tectonics

Crust:

• Oceanic and Continental Crusts
• Calcium (Ca) and Sodium (Na) 
• Rocky and Brittle
• Fractures during earthquakes
• .473% of Earth's mass
• Depth 0-31 miles
• 0 Celsius 

We love Bill Nye the Science Guy. He has some great videos with a ton of useful information. The little monkeys soak it all in. At the end we go over and have a discussion and it is amazing what they learned from the video.  We will continue to watch, learn, and grow.

This experiment was one that they got to do and eat. Those are the best kind in their eyes. They love snack times. Plus, what child doesn't enjoy playing with their food? 

The experiment was a huge success. The kids and I talked about all the core facts tat we learned and the facts about the volcanoes which we were studying. They are little sponges taking everything in. It is fun teaching at their different levels, too.