Layers of the Earth Worksheet (Free KS2 Geography Printable)

What are the four layers of the Earth?

The Earth is made up of four main layers. The crust is the thin, rocky outer shell we live on, and it is by far the thinnest layer. Beneath it lies the mantle, a very thick layer of hot, slowly moving rock that makes up most of the Earth's volume. Deeper still is the outer core, a layer of liquid metal (mostly iron and nickel), and right at the centre sits the solid inner core. Temperatures rise steadily towards the centre, where the inner core is thought to be roughly as hot as the surface of the Sun. Helping children picture these layers in order, from thin and cool on the outside to thick and hot inside, gives them a mental model they can return to when learning about volcanoes, earthquakes and rocks.

Why the Earth's structure matters in KS2 geography

The National Curriculum asks KS2 pupils to describe and understand key aspects of physical geography, including volcanoes and earthquakes. Understanding the Earth's layers gives these topics meaning: volcanoes form where molten rock from the mantle reaches the surface, and earthquakes happen as sections of the crust move against one another. By introducing the structure first, children have the background knowledge they need before exploring how and why these dramatic events occur. This worksheet is a useful starting point or revision aid for a unit on natural hazards, rocks and soils, or 'our planet'.

How to use this worksheet

Begin by talking through the cut-away globe together, pointing out how the wedge has been removed so we can see inside, much like cutting a slice from an apple or a boiled egg. Ask children to read the word bank and decide which label belongs to each layer, using the clue that the crust is thinnest and on the outside while the inner core is the small circle in the very centre. They can then colour each band to the simple colour key, which reinforces the order of the layers and encourages careful observation of their different thicknesses. Encourage them to say the layers aloud, from the outside in, to help the new vocabulary stick.

Extending the learning at home or in class

Once the sheet is complete, children could compare the Earth to everyday objects with layers, such as a peach with its skin, flesh and stone, to consolidate the idea of a thin outer layer surrounding thicker inner ones. More confident pupils might investigate why the inner core is solid even though it is hotter than the liquid outer core (the answer lies in the immense pressure at the centre). Linking the worksheet to a follow-up lesson on volcanoes or earthquakes turns this background knowledge into a springboard for the wider physical geography curriculum.

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