A material that consistently captures the students’ imagination is a globe cut in half to show the layers of the Earth. The idea the core of the Earth is made of metal and as hot as the surface of the Sun is fantastic. To see how small the crust is concerning the mantle is another mind-boggling fact. As cool as the Earth models are, they do not give a sense of the movement inside the Earth. The students learn about tectonic plates, but the cause of the movement can still be a mystery.

In this game, which will reinforce terminologies like crust, mantle, outer and inner core, lava, and volcanoes, the students will understand why there is so much movement in the mantle. In addition, the students will be introduced to terms like convection currents, which solidifies the concept that when something is heated, it rises. Likewise, when something is cooled, it settles. This lesson includes two versions of the game: a classroom version for lower elementary and a gym or outdoor version for everyone.

Materials:  Version #1 (lower elementary classroom)

·      Whatever space you have available in the classroom. This most probably will be the large rug.

·      A red jersey, a red piece of felt, or something to designate who the heat player is in the game.

Materials:  Version #2 (gym or outside play area)

·      A large play area

o   If in the gym, the concentric circles in the middle of the gym, used for the tipoff in basketball, will represent the inner and outer core. The lines typically used for the perimeter of volleyball will be the crust. The space in-between will represent the mantle.

o   If in a field, the instructor should bring a hula-hoop (inner core), several long jump ropes (outer core), and lots of cones and rubber disc dots (the crust).

·      Some red jerseys or pennies

·      Lots of cones and rubber disc dots

Minimum Amount of Students Needed: Version #1 needs at least three students but works better with more. However, version #1 is designed for inside the classroom, which can be very hard for a large class to accommodate. If possible, version #2 should be played by an entire class but could work with at least ten students.

Age: All Ages