Middle School Geography-'Earth Egg' activity

EARTH EGG

Key Points:

Students will gain a better understanding of the composition, ratio and proportion of the Earth's crust, mantle and core.

Materials:


 * overhead projector/transparencies


 * globe


 * colored chalk


 * brown hard-boiled eggs


 * plastic knives


 * plates


 * napkins


 * garbage bag (for clean-up)

Introduction:

1. Ask students what a globe represents. Explain that a globe is a model of our Earth and that models are used to represent an object or item.

2. Present a model of the Earth’s interior. Ask students how they think scientists are able to predict what the inside of our Earth looks like.

3. Explain the concept of inferences (conclusions and predictions) and use an example that children can relate to (guessing what is inside of a wrapped present by shaking, smelling, or weighing it). Explain that scientists drill into the Earth, study energy waves from earthquakes, and study rocks that spew from volcanoes in order to learn more about our Earth.

4. Explain that scientists have concluded that the Earth has three main layers, the crust, mantle and core. Using colored chalk, draw the layers on the board. Present information on the Earth's layers.

5. Inform students that just like they use the globe as a model of the Earth, they are going to use an egg as a model of the Earth’s interior. They will also get a better understanding of how plates move.

Procedure:

1. Distribute eggs, plates, napkins, and plastic knives. Instruct students to set their egg on their plate and wait for step-by-step directions to be given.

2. Ask students, based on what was reviewed, what part of Earth they believe the shell of the egg represents.

3. Demonstrate how to tap the egg lightly on all sides, breaking the shell.

4. Ask students what layer of the Earth is showing through the shell.

6. Inform and demonstrate how to cut the egg.

7. Ask students to name the layers of the Earth’s interior by using the egg as a model.