A Fun Sixth Grade Science Project

Studying the Earth's Core, Crust & Mantle

Does your 11-year-old still love digging in the dirt? Is she fascinated by earthquakes? If so, then your child is ready to explore the sciences of the earth this fall when he enters sixth grade.

But what about the student who has no interest in science? What can you - mom, dad, babysitter, grandparent - do to pique those interests? Plenty. Here is one simple and fun idea to spark that curiosity and wonder.

KITCHEN FIELD TRIP

Without even leaving home, you can get started. One of the content standards for California Sixth Graders is Plate Tectonics and Earth's Structure. In school, your child will be learning how the earth's different plates slide and collide shifting land and creating movement (earthquakes). Help her visualize the inside of the earth by creating a mold of the various layers. (You can even eat your project when the lesson is over!)

BACKGROUND

First, you, the teacher, need to know a little about the earth. You would need to dig for about 4000 miles before you get to the very center of the earth. The Earth is comprised of four simple layers. Beginning at the surface you have the CRUST (about 50 miles deep) which includes the ocean layers with about 6 miles of CRUST beneath them, then another 43 miles of CRUST beneath the continents; next, is the 1,800 mile-MANTLE made up of gases and minerals; followed by an OUTER CORE (1,400 miles thick) and an INNER CORE (740 miles thick). The INNER CORE consists of a molten mix of iron and nickel, while the OUTER CORE is a solid mix of these elements.

So, this means that the mantle layer is nearly ½ of this journey, the outer core is maybe 1/3, with the inner core about 1/6, leaving the mantle making up about 1/16.


THE PROJECT

1.Materials needed: One vanilla cake box mix; one metal pie pan; a container of white frosting; at least four different tubes of food coloring; four paper cups; a frosting spatula; a baking sheet.

2.Start with the cake mix and an 8-inch pie pan. Bake the cake according to package directions. (There will be enough for two 8-inch pans; you can make the second for another child or just for eating.)