How do I make a layers of the earth diagram?

Describe the diagram you want, choosing the compositional layers, the mechanical layers, or both, and whether it should be labeled or blank. Pick a style, then click Generate. Figviz draws a clean cross-section with legible labels and thin leader lines, ready to download and print. Refine the prompt and regenerate until it fits your lesson.

What is the difference between the 4 layers and the 7 layers?

The 4 layers are compositional: crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core, grouped by what each shell is made of. The mechanical scheme groups the earth by physical behavior and splits the upper region into lithosphere, asthenosphere, and mesosphere, so once you count those plus both core layers you can label up to seven distinct zones. Figviz can draw either scheme or show them side by side.

Can I get a blank layers of the earth worksheet?

Yes. Ask for a blank version and Figviz produces a cross-section with empty label boxes and leader lines pointing to each layer, so students can fill in the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core themselves. Blank diagrams work well for note-taking, quizzes, and exit tickets.

Is the layers of the earth diagram generator free?

Yes. Every Figviz account starts with free credits you can use right away, no credit card required. A pay-as-you-go credit pack removes the watermark and unlocks higher-resolution export for large printing. Credits never expire.

Can I print the diagram for my classroom?

Yes. Figviz exports diagrams at up to 4K resolution, sharp enough for full-page handouts or larger posters. Download the image and print at home or school. For a wall display choose the portrait aspect ratio, and for a worksheet handout the square or landscape options work well.

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Layers of the Earth Diagram Generator Layers of the Earth

Create clear, labeled layers of the earth diagrams in seconds. Show the four compositional layers, the five mechanical layers, or a simple version for kids. Free for teachers, students, and researchers.

Last updated: 2026-06-24

✓Labeled compositional and mechanical layers✓Full cross-section and cutaway views✓Classic, colorful and minimal styles✓Print-ready 4K output

Layers of the Earth Diagram Generator

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Layers of the Earth Diagram Examples

Browse layers of the earth diagrams made with Figviz, or generate your own above

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Four Layer Cross-Section

A clean cross-section showing the four compositional layers of the earth as concentric rings, from the thin crust to the solid inner core.

compositionalcross-sectionfour layers

Fully Labeled Earth Layers

A fully labeled layers of the earth diagram with a callout for every layer, ideal for direct instruction and student notes.

labeledall partsstudy guide

Five Mechanical Layers

A cross-section organized by physical behavior, showing the five mechanical layers from the rigid lithosphere down to the solid inner core.

mechanicallithosphereasthenosphere

Quarter Cutaway with Depth and Temperature

A quarter cutaway view that reveals layer thickness alongside depth and temperature notes, helping students connect structure with conditions inside the planet.

cutawaytemperaturedepth

Earth Layers for Kids

A simplified layers of the earth diagram for kids, with bright colors and large friendly labels for the crust, mantle, and core.

for kidssimpleelementary

Blank Earth Layers Worksheet

A blank worksheet version with empty label boxes and leader lines, ready for students to identify each layer of the earth on their own.

worksheetblankfill in

What are the layers of the earth?

The layers of the earth are the concentric shells that make up the planet from the surface down to its center. Scientists describe these layers in two ways. By composition, the earth has four main layers: the crust, the mantle, the outer core, and the inner core. By physical behavior, the earth has five mechanical layers: the lithosphere, the asthenosphere, the mesosphere, the outer core, and the inner core. A layers of the earth diagram shows these shells as a labeled cross-section, so students can see how a thin rocky crust sits over a deep, hot mantle and a dense metallic core. A diagram generator turns a short description into a clean, labeled cross-section so you can skip the drawing and go straight to teaching.

The four compositional layers

Crust: the thin, rigid outer shell of rock that we live on, ranging from a few kilometers thick under the oceans to tens of kilometers under continents.

Mantle: the thick layer of hot, slowly flowing rock beneath the crust that makes up most of the volume of the earth and drives plate motion.

Outer core: a layer of liquid iron and nickel whose movement generates the magnetic field of the planet.

Inner core: a solid ball of iron and nickel at the center, kept solid by immense pressure despite extreme heat.

Each layer differs in what it is made of, how dense it is, and how it behaves under heat and pressure.

Mechanical vs compositional layers

Compositional layers group the earth by what each shell is made of, giving the four familiar layers: crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. Mechanical layers group the earth by how each shell physically behaves, giving five layers: lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere, outer core, and inner core. The key difference shows up near the surface. The rigid lithosphere includes the crust plus the cool, brittle top of the mantle, and it is broken into the tectonic plates. Below it, the asthenosphere is a weaker, partly soft part of the mantle that lets those plates slide. The mesosphere is the stiffer lower mantle. This is why some diagrams label 4 layers and others label 7 distinct zones once you split the mantle and count both core layers. Showing both schemes side by side helps students understand that the same planet can be organized by chemistry or by strength.

How to make and use a layers of the earth diagram

Decide whether you want the four compositional layers, the five mechanical layers, or both shown together.

Choose labeled if you want every layer named, or blank if students will fill in the labels themselves.

Pick a view: a full cross-section, a quarter cutaway that reveals thickness, or a simple version for kids.

Add optional notes such as depth in kilometers or temperature to connect structure with conditions inside the planet.

Pick a style: Classic for clean printing, Colorful for bright color-coded layers, or Minimal for a low-ink worksheet.

Click Generate, review the diagram, and download your print-ready image for handouts, slides, or posters.

Classroom uses for earth science

Direct instruction: project a labeled cross-section while you walk through each layer from crust to inner core.

Note-taking: hand out the blank worksheet so students label the layers as you teach.

Compare and contrast: show the compositional and mechanical versions together to teach the lithosphere and asthenosphere.

Quick checks: use the blank version as an exit ticket where students name each layer.

Projects and posters: print the quarter cutaway at high resolution for a wall display with thickness and temperature notes.

Frequently asked questions

By composition the earth has four layers: crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. By physical behavior it has five mechanical layers: lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere, outer core, and inner core. A layers of the earth diagram shows these shells as a labeled cross-section. Figviz can generate labeled or blank versions in seconds.

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