Earth's Systems Unit Introduction: Earth's Layers and the Rock Cycle

Grade 6 - NC 2023 Science Standards (Earth's Systems)

            📚 Science
                            🎓 Grade 6
                                        ⏱️ 45 minutes
                    

Learning Objectives

Describe Earth's crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core using a model (relative position, composition, and density).
Explain how rocks change through the rock cycle and connect rock weathering to soil formation using a model.

            Progress
            8 sections
        

1
Hook and key terms
                            ~4 minutes                        

Unit question: How does Earth's inside shape Earth's surface? Today we start by looking inside Earth (layers) and then zoom back out to how rocks change over time (the rock cycle).

                📖
                Key terms for today            

crust, mantle, core, density, convection, magma, igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic, weathering, erosion, compaction, cementation

2
Earth layers model
                            ~10 minutes                        

Earth layers with depth scale

Cross section diagram of Earth showing crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core with a depth scale labeled in kilometers.

Earth has layers with different compositions and densities. The crust is thin and rocky. The mantle is much thicker and made of hot rock that is mostly solid but can flow slowly. The core is mostly iron and nickel. The outer core is liquid, and the inner core is solid due to very high pressure.

3
Check your understanding 1
                            ~5 minutes                        

                💡
                Check your understanding 1: Earth's layers            

Answer the questions Q-LAY-1 through Q-LAY-4. Use the Earth layers diagram as your model.

Question 1

Which layer is mostly liquid?

Crust
Mantle
Outer core
Inner core

Question 2

Place Earth's layers in order from the outside to the center.

Drag items to reorder, then confirm

Question 3

The slow movement in the mantle caused by hotter material rising and cooler material sinking is called ______.

Word Bank:

                                                    convection
                                                    condensation
                                                    evaporation
                                                    radiation
                                            

Question 4

Scientists cannot drill to the core. What is one kind of evidence they use to learn about Earth's inside, and why does it help?

Expected length: 1-3 words

4
Video: NASA Earth interior
                            ~5 minutes                        
NASA: Earth's Interior Overview

5
Rock cycle model
                            ~10 minutes                        

Rock cycle with processes and energy sources

Rock cycle diagram showing magma, igneous rock, sediments, sedimentary rock, and metamorphic rock connected by labeled processes such as cooling, weathering, compaction, heat and pressure, and melting.

Rocks change when conditions change. Internal heat can melt rock into magma or change rock through heat and pressure. Surface processes like weathering and erosion break rocks into sediments. Over time, sediments can become sedimentary rock. Weathering also helps form soil, and different rocks can lead to different soil compositions.

6
Check your understanding 2
                            ~5 minutes                        

                💡
                Check your understanding 2: The rock cycle and soil            

Answer the questions Q-ROCK-1 through Q-ROCK-4. Use the rock cycle diagram as your model.

Question 5

Which processes can help form sedimentary rock? (Select all that apply)

Weathering and erosion
Compaction and cementation
Melting
Deposition

Select all that apply.

Question 6

Rock changed mainly by heat and pressure becomes ______ rock.

Word Bank:

                                                    igneous
                                                    sedimentary
                                                    metamorphic
                                                    magma
                                            

Question 7

Order this pathway starting with magma: magma -> (1) -> (2) -> (3).

                        ⋮⋮
                        Sediments (weathering/erosion)
                    
                        ⋮⋮
                        Sedimentary rock (compaction/cementation)
                    
                        ⋮⋮
                        Igneous rock (cooling)

Drag items to reorder, then confirm

Question 8

How does weathering connect rocks to soil formation? Give one clear example.

Expected length: 1-3 words

7
Video: USGS rock cycle
                            ~6 minutes                        
USGS: The Rock Cycle Explained

8
Exit ticket and closure
                            ~5 minutes                        

                💡
                Exit ticket            

Answer Q-EXIT-1 and Q-EXIT-2. Keep answers short but specific.

Question 9

A sedimentary rock gets buried deep and experiences strong heat and pressure. What does it most likely become?

Sediments
Metamorphic rock
Magma
Igneous rock

Question 10

In one or two sentences, connect Earth's internal heat to at least one change in the rock cycle.

Expected length: 1-2 words