Texas TEKS 6.10.B

Science6th GradeEarth and space

The Standard

model and describe the layers of Earth, including the inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students create and interpret a cutaway model of Earth. They identify each layer, place it in the correct order, and describe key traits such as thickness and physical state.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can label an unlabeled Earth diagram from the surface to the center. They can explain that the crust is thin, the mantle is thick, the outer core is liquid, and the inner core is solid.
Common Misconceptions: Students often confuse the outer core with the mantle or reverse the two core layers. They may think the mantle is liquid magma throughout or draw every layer with equal thickness.
How to Assess It: Give students an unlabeled Earth cross section. Ask them to label the four layers, mark each as solid or liquid, and circle the thickest layer.

Lesson moves

Build a cutaway Earth with four colors of clay, then slice it and attach labels to each layer.
Write a museum label for each layer that explains its location, relative thickness, material, and whether it is solid or liquid.
Play layer order relay: teams arrange crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core cards, then justify the sequence.
Compare Earth's cutaway to a hard-boiled egg, then list where the analogy works and where it breaks down.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 6.10.B, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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