We need to protect Earth - Lets learn more about our wonderful planet - Part 1 Random facts and researc for kids

We live on a beautiful planet with so much to offer.  Things we can see and things we can use.  It is our responsibility to look after our planet.  It is the only one we have.

We will start a series where we will look at different features we find on Earth, like mountains, rivers, oceans etc, but for today we will just learn some random facts on our lovely planet called Earth.

The Earth's inside is very hot, so hot that the rocks have melted.  When a volcano erupts, the magma (which is the molten rock) moves to the top of the volcano and when it overflows it is called lava.  At a volcano, you will also find a type of rock called 'pumice' and it is the only rock that can float on water.

• Find a picture of pumice rock and find out what you can use it for

Resources like coal, gas and oil are called fossil fuels.  Natural gas do not have a smell and since it can kill you when you inhale too much of it, they add strong smells to it so that if there is a leak, you will be able to smell it and do something before you are in danger.

• Do research and find out how fossil fuels are made

Earth is made up of tectonic plates that constantly move - very slowly, but they do move.  Different countries are move closer or further away from each other through time.  Japan and Hawaii for instance are moving towards one another at 10 cm per year. (Eventually over many many years they can end up right next to each other).

There are many features on Earth like deserts, mountains, seas and rivers.  The longest river on Earth is the Nile river which is 6696 km long, the largest desert outside of the Polar regions is the Sahara desert that takes up a third of the continent Africa and the highest mountain is Mt Everest, which highest peak is 8848 m above sea level.  The Atlantic Ocean is the saltiest of all the oceans.

• Learn more here about the different 'records' of Earth

Earthquakes is something that do not only take place on land but it can also happen under the sea, in which case it can cause a Tsunami which is a huge wave that can destroy buildings, take lives and cause a lot of damage.

• Do some research and find out more about which countries have had Tsunamis, what are the dangers and after effect of this phenomena and what can people do to keep themselves save

There are different types of rocks on Earth and they form in different ways.  The main ones are metamorphic, igneous and sedimentary rocks.  There are also many fossils of plants and animals that were found.

The Earth isn't perfectly round, it is slightly flattened at the north and south poles.  

The Amazon Rain forest is the biggest forest on Earth and the Australian Great Barrier Reef is the biggest living structure on Earth.  (remember that a reef is not only a place where you find many fish, but the reef itself is also alive)

The Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Queensland in northeastern Australia, is the largest living thing on Earth, and even visible from outer space. The 2,300km-long ecosystem comprises thousands of reefs and hundreds of islands made of over 600 types of hard and soft coral. It's home to countless species of colourful fish, molluscs and starfish, plus turtles, dolphins and sharks. 

• Choose any 5 animals or plants that you will find in these two ecosystems and find extra information on it.
• Have a look at some ideas of craft you can do to protect/celebrate Earth.  If there are anything you would like to make, do research to find the way to do it or use your imagination.