How to make a model of layers of the Earth with Play doh

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We learned about the layers of the Earth and made the model with play doh. It helped my son to understand the Earth’s layers, and also it was exciting when we cut the Earth in half!

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What We Used

• Blue and green playdoh for “Crust.”
• Orange playdoh for “Mantle.”
• Yellow playdoh for “Outer Core.”
• Red playdoh for “Inner Core.”
• Cheese slicer with a wire (If you don’t have one, dental floss, threads, or fishing line might work)

Please change the colors if you would like.

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Video

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Resource

Science News for Students: Explainer: Earth – Layer by layer

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Step by Step

1. First, we made the “Inner Core.” We made a small ball with a red play doh.
2. Second, we wrapped it with yellow play doh as the “Outer Core.”
3. Third, we wrapped it again with orange play doh as the “Mantle.”
4. Finally, we made the “Crust.” We wrapped it one more time with Blue play doh as ocean first, then added green play doh as landmasses.

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Cutting in Half

We used the butter knife, and it squashed the whole shape!! OH NO!!! DON’T USE BUTTER KNIFE! It was a big mistake.

In the second attempt, we used the cheese slicer with a wire. If you don’t have one at home, dental floss, threads, or fishing line might work for slicing… like an egg slicer does. The key is… slicing it in half VERY SLOWLY. Don’t press.

Done! We left it for a couple of days, and it dried nicely.

Happy learning!