How to Make Play-Doh Planet Earth Science Lesson Plan Teachers

How to Make Play-Doh
Planet Earth
Science Lesson Plan
Teachers: Annie Woodson and Alexis Lawson
Grade: Pre School & Pre-K
Time Frame: 45 Minutes
Standards:
VSC’S: Standard 1.0 Skills and Processes
1. Design and make things with simple tools and a variety of materials.
OBJECTIVES
1. Make something out of paper, cardboard, wood, plastic, metal, or existing objects
that can actually be used to perform a task.
2. Recognize that tools are used to do things better or more easily and to do some
things that could not otherwise be done at all.
c. Assemble, describe, take apart and reassemble constructions using interlocking
blocks, erector sets and the like.
INDICATOR
2. Practice identifying the parts of things and how one part connects to and affects another.
OBJECTIVES
1. Investigate a variety of objects to identify that most things are made of parts
2. Explain that something may not work if some of its parts are missing.
c. Explain that when parts are put together, they can do things that they couldn't do
by themselves.
Next Generation Science Standards: 2-ESS2 Earth’s Systems
2-ESS2-2. Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in an
area. [Assessment Boundary: [Assessment does not include quantitative scaling in models.]
Science and Engineering Practices
Developing and Using Models
Modeling in K–2 builds on prior experiences and progresses to include using and developing
models (i.e., diagram, drawing, physical replica, diorama, dramatization, or storyboard) that
represent concrete events or design solutions.
* Develop a model to represent patterns in the natural world. (2-ESS2-2)
Crosscutting Concepts
Connections to Nature of Science
Science Addresses Questions -- About the Natural and Material World
* Scientists study the natural and material world. (2-ESS2-1)
Brief Description:
Students will create a 3 dimensional model of the earth using various colors of play-doh.
Objective:
Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the shape and physical make up of the
earth including core, mantle, crust, and oceans.
Vocabulary: Color Words (red, yellow, orange, brown, green, and blue), layers, crust, core,
mantle, inside, and outside
Materials:
Play-Doh – red, orange, yellow, brown, green, and blue
Plastic knife, scissors, tape, tooth picks, and labels (with names of the earth’s layers on them)
Motivation: (Information part of the lesson)
Hold up a globe of the earth and ask your students, What do you think the earth look like
inside? Do you think it is empty? Is it hard or soft?
Resource: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sxd-wGMfNxw
The above link will take you to a video on how to create the earth’s layers – inside the earth.
The video helps the students to make a connection by using an egg to explain each layer inside of
the earth. Make sure you pause the video when needed to answer questions and to explain what
is going on in student friendly terms for your special needs students.
Earth’s Layers
Inner Core
The Earth's inner core is yellow, and it is deep and hot. It is the hottest part of the earth. The
inner core is solid (hard) even though it is hot. Also, it is as hot as the surface of the sun.
Outer Core
The Earth's outer core is orange, and it is very hot. It is hotter than fire. The mantle is made up
of hot liquids.
Mantle
The next layer of the Earth is called the mantle. The mantle is much thicker than the crust. The
mantle is the red layer. The mantle layer of the earth has a lot of rocks.
Crust
The crust is the thin outer layer of the Earth where we live. The crust is the brown part on the
picture.
As you talk about each layer and ask and answer questions, make your model using play-doh. If
you create a model while you are explaining each of the earth’s interior layers, it is not just a
visual image, but it will keep the students attention and interest.
Procedures: Student Activity:
Resource: Pictures of the steps for creating the earth’s interior layers:
[helpified.com/paths/play-doh-model-of-the-earth]
The first step in creating a Play-Doh model of the Earth is to gather materials. The materials
needed are: Play-Doh: red, orange, yellow, black, green, and blue, knife, scissors, tape, four
toothpicks, and labels
Create the inner core of your Play-Doh Earth model
Step two is to make a round ball of dough about the size of a quarter (measurements will vary
based on personal preference of the size of the Earth model).
Create the outer core of your Play-Doh Earth model
The third step is to cover the red ball with orange dough.
Create the mantle of you Play-Doh Earth model
The fourth step is to cover the orange ball with yellow dough. This layer will be thinner than the
orange and red layers.
Create the crust of you Play-Doh Earth model
Step five is to cover the ball with a very thin layer of the black dough.
Add water and land to your Play-Doh Earth model
Step six is to cover the ball with blue dough. On top of the blue add green dough to make land. If
you are really crafty you can make the shapes look like actual continents.
Cut your Play-Doh Earth model in half
The seventh step is to cut the Earth in half so you can see all of the layers. I found it easiest to
use a serrated knife and make small back and forth motions instead of cutting straight down,
which just smudges the dough.
Label the layers of your Play-Doh Earth model
The final step eight is to label the model. Write the name of each layer (inner core outer core,
mantle, and crust) on a piece of a note card and tape them to toothpicks which will be inserted
into the Play-Doh.
Closing/Assessment:
Teacher will gather students in a circle with their play-doh models of the earth to explain how
they created their 3 dimensional models of the layers of the earth’s interior and shape using the
vocabulary in the lesson.
Students’ models will be displayed in the science center in the classroom.
Modifications: premade balls and layers will be provided for special needs students. Adult
assistance will be provided as needed.
Below is a rubric that we found online: [http://jocombs.org/filestore/ksciencerubric.pdf]