Layers of the Earth

Earth is made up of several layers:

• Crust: The outermost layer, where we live.
• Mantle: Hot, flowing rock beneath the crust.
• Core: The center, made of iron and nickel (with a liquid outer core and solid inner core).

Plate Tectonics

The Earth's crust is broken into large pieces called tectonic plates. These plates float on the mantle and move slowly.

What Happens When Plates Move?

• Earthquakes: Plates sliding past each other can cause the ground to shake.
• Volcanoes: Plates moving apart or together can create volcanoes.
• Mountains: Plates colliding can push land upward, forming mountains.

Real-World Importance

Plate tectonics shapes our continents, causes natural disasters, and creates valuable resources like minerals.

Fun Fact

The continents are still moving! In millions of years, they’ll look very different.