The ground beneath your feet feels solid and still. But Earth's surface is being reshaped all the time — sometimes slowly, sometimes in violent seconds. Today we find out how.
Earth isn't solid rock all the way down. It's built in layers, like a giant peach — and the thin outer skin is broken into giant moving pieces.
| Layer | What it's like | How thick / deep |
|---|---|---|
| Crust | Thin, solid rock — where we live | 5–70 km thick |
| Mantle | Hot, slow-flowing rock | ~2,900 km thick |
| Outer core | Liquid metal (iron & nickel) | ~2,200 km thick |
| Inner core | Solid metal, ~5,500°C | centre of the Earth |
Where plates meet, the action happens. Watch how a volcano works: lava rises and fills the vent, then spills over the top as it erupts.
Earthquakes and volcanoes don't happen just anywhere — they cluster along the edges where tectonic plates meet, almost all around the Pacific Ocean.
In your groups, model Earth's moving crust with clay — then describe how each event reshapes the surface.
| Event | How it changes the surface |
|---|---|
| Volcanic eruption | Adds new rock and ash; can build whole islands |
| Earthquake | Cracks and shifts the ground; can trigger landslides |
| Erosion (after) | Wind and water slowly wear the new land down again |
On your own, complete the volcano worksheet. Use the diagram from earlier as your guide.
Think-pair-share to finish.