Earth's Layers Complete Lesson Plan - MS

This unit provides everything you need to teach Earth’s layers in a middle school Earth science classroom. The resource includes editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, a differentiated station lab, and assessments. Designed for multiday instruction with minimal prep, the lesson emphasizes student-led learning and differentiation, giving teachers more time to focus on guiding student success.

Essential Questions for Students

• What are the main characteristics of Earth’s layers?

• How can Earth’s layers be represented and illustrated?

Note for Texas teachers: This lesson aligns with the 2017 TEKS and will not be updated for the 2021 standards.

Key Features

• Differentiated materials for students needing additional support

• Multimodal learning activities to engage a variety of learning styles

• Printable and digital formats for maximum flexibility

• Editable PowerPoints for teacher customization

• Spanish translations of vocabulary, a station lab passage, and interactive notebook pages

Instructional Framework: The 5E Model

This lesson follows the 5E instructional model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate—balancing inquiry, practice, and assessment.

Engage

• Objectives and Word Wall cards in English and Spanish

• Teacher guide with discussion prompts, a classroom activity, and notes on common misconceptions

Explore

• A nine-station, student-led lab introducing Earth’s layers through hands-on and digital activities

Input Stations:

• Explore It! – Hands-on demonstration or experiment

• Read It! – Differentiated reading passages (English & Spanish) with comprehension questions

• Research It! – Guided web-based activity

• Watch It! – Short video with discussion questions

Output Stations:

• Organize It! – Sorting and categorization with print or digital tools

• Write It! – Written responses to open-ended prompts

• Illustrate It! – Drawing/sketching to reinforce new concepts

• Assess It! – Vocabulary and mastery-based questions

Bonus Station:

• Challenge It! – Extension tasks (crosswords, games, and mini-projects) for early finishers or enrichment

Explain

• Editable PowerPoints (standard and interactive versions)

• Interactive Notebook templates (digital and print, English & Spanish)

• Guided note-taking organizers

Elaborate

• Student-choice projects on Earth’s layers for classroom or at-home application

Evaluate

• Assessments updated for STAAR 2.0 with both standard and modified versions

• Review worksheets and questions for class discussion, homework, or test prep

Flexibility for Learning Environments

This lesson is designed for both in-person and virtual learning. Station labs and interactive notebook resources are fully compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides, making implementation simple across different settings.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with formatting or corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.