Mrs Arch's Year 7 Geographers have started Tectonics this term. They started by looking at the structure of the Earth. The Earth can be divided into the Crust, Mantle, Outer Core and Inner Core. The Inner Core is made up of iron and nickel which should be a liquid due to the intense heat in the middle of the Earth. However, the Inner Core is actually a solid due to the immense pressure from the other layers squashing the atoms together. This phenomenon can be exemplified by using Oobleck - a mixture made from cornflour and water. The students were able to run their fingers gently through the mixture but when they held the mixture in the palm of their hands, applying pressure, the mixture turned into a solid. Mrs Arch is hoping that this practical, kinaesthetic learning helps students to remember the characteristics of the Earth's layers. Thank you to 7E for getting messy.