Play Dough, Pinterest, and the 3rd Planet from the Sun

Perhaps some of the most fun we have had 

while "journeying through" our Solar System

was when we stopped off at Earth

and learned about her inner layers...

After seeing 

His Mercy is New's

lesson on the layers of the Earth,

(and seeing this idea again

SEVERAL times on Pinterest),

I knew my kiddos were destined to make

a play dough layered Earth.

I was able to find several small packs of play dough

at Target's Dollar Spot

which I labeled...

...and put together a 

"Layers of the Earth" Kit

for each of my kiddos.

(I should have included another container of yellow

for the mantle, since it is the thickest layer.

Later during the lesson I did give each of the kiddos

another one to make their models more accurate.) 

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We began the lesson by reading and discussing...

...The Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth

by

Joanna Cole.

Then...

...I went over THESE

Layers of the Earth cards with the kiddos.

The kiddos then matched up the picture cards...

...with the labels as review.

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Then it was time for the play dough!

Each of the kiddos...

...created their own earth models using the

"Layers of the Earth" Kits.

(Apparently, silly faces help in the

construction process...)

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Here are...

...their completed Earth models.

After the kiddos' finished their models...

...I cut 'em open with a pizza cutter...

...to reveal the Earth's layers.

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I highly recommend using play dough

when you teach your kiddos about the Earth.

It is such great fun!

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Linking up

with

Science Sunday...