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Earth & Life

Science
Quarter 1 – Module 2:
The Earth
 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
know more about the planet Earth. The scope of this module permits it to be used
in many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse
vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard
sequence of the course. But the order in which you read them can be changed to
correspond with the textbook you are now using.

This module will help you to explain that the Earth consists of four subsystems,
across whose boundaries matter and energy flow.

This module contains:

Lesson 1 The Earth Subsystems

Lesson 2 Earth’s Interior

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. define the concept of a system;

2. recognize the Earth as a system composed of subsystems;
3. describe the Earth’s interior (in terms of crust, mantle, core); and
4. compare the Earth’s layers

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 What I Know

Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. Which is the most appropriate description of the hydrosphere?

A. The mixture of gases that surround the earth.
B. The waters on earth including subsurface.
C. Only surface water on earth.
D. Only atmospheric water.
2. All living organisms of the earth, including those on the land, water and
air, are considered part of which subsystem?
A. Atmosphere C. Biosphere
B. Geosphere D. Hydrosphere
3. Which of the following is NOT one of the four major geological
subsystems of the earth?
A. Atmosphere C. Biosphere
B. Geosphere D. Watersphere
4. Which is the largest portion of the Earth’s mass and volume?
A. Core C. magma
B. Crust D. Mantle
5. Which is the thinnest layer of the Earth?
A. Crust C. Mantle
B. Inner core D. Outer core
6. Which is an example of a connection between hydrosphere and
geosphere?
A. animals eat plants
B. boats transporting goods
C. waves eroding rocks on beach
D. water evaporating to make clouds
7. When carbon dioxide dissolves from the air into the ocean the interaction
is between.
A. The atmosphere and hydrosphere
B. The atmosphere and atmosphere
C. The atmosphere and lithosphere
D. The atmosphere and biosphere
8. The Earth is composed of a complex set of cycles, parts and processes
that all work together as a__________.
A. system C. factory
B. planet D. unit
9. Which of the following spheres contain all the gases that envelope the
earth?
A. Hydrosphere C. Lithosphere
B. Biosphere D. Atmosphere

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10. Which subsystem interacts when nitrogen is returned to the soil when
dead plants decompose?
A. The lithosphere and atmosphere
B. The biosphere and atmosphere
C. The biosphere and lithosphere
D. The atmosphere and lithosphere
11. Which layer produces the earth’s magnetic field.
A. crust C. mantle
B. inner core D. outer core
12. What is the lithosphere composed of?
A. The continental and oceanic crust
B. The crust and upper most mantle
C. The lower mantle
D. The upper mantle
13. Which layer of the earth’s interior is liquid?
A. Crust C. Outer core
B. Inner core D. Mantle
14. Which is TRUE about biogeochemical cycle?
A. It is an interaction between biosphere and lithosphere only
B. It is an interaction between the lithosphere and hydrosphere only.
C. It is an interaction between and among the spheres
D. It is an interaction between lithosphere and atmosphere only.
15. Which subsystems involve the minerals and rocks on earth?
A. Atmosphere C. Lithosphere
B. Biosphere D. Hydrosphere

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Lesson
The Earth Subsystems
1
Earth is made up of erratic, complex and interactive systems that make it a
constantly changing planet. Air, water, land and life are the four major systems of
Earth. Each help shape the structure of the planet.

This lesson will allow you to recognize the Earth as a system composed of
subsystems

What’s In

For ages, planet Earth has mystified man. The planet includes all the
physical and living elements on its surface. All these elements are connected to
each other and form a complex whole. They intermingle with each other within a
defined boundary. Thus, our planet has an integrated yet complex social-
environmental systems.

Below is an illustration of a processes in one of the subsystems which you

should have mastered from your pervious sciences.

Let’s do a recall by labeling the different processes and phases of water

involved in the water cycle. Use the following terms to complete the cycle:

condensation, precipitation, evaporation

infiltration, transpiration surface run-off

2____________
_____

3. ____________
_____

1. ___________
6.____________ ________
_______

5. ____________
_____

4. ____________
_____
Figure 1: Hydrologic Cycle (w/o labels)
Image Source: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/ _YTb6ZblJu0o/TPMzp32R5aI/
AAAAAAAAALg/vnul9ZgWt0M/s1600/ WaterCycleArt.jpg

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 1. Are there any interaction in Figure 1? ____________________________________

2. From your previous knowledge in an ecosystem give 3 interactions that can

be depicted from the illustration.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

What’s New

I Feel You, El Niño!

1. Have you heard or experienced El Niño? Give at least 5 phenomena that
can be observed during El Niño.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. Examine Figure 2 and answer the following questions.

Figure 2. El Niño phenomenon

Image Source:
https://www.google.com/search?q=el+nino+phenomenon&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiouP24hI7qAhWP
PXAKHXlOAQwQ_AUoAXoECBIQAw#imgrc=CA-BHUVcA0vOBM

a. What is El Niño? ___________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

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b. Which particular areas of the Earth interacts with each other based on
Figure 2 illustration? ______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

c. How does this interaction cause El Niño? __________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

What is It

A system is a set of interconnected components that are interacting

to form a unified whole. Earth system is essentially a closed system. A closed
system is a system in which there is only an exchange of heat or energy and no
exchange of matter. Thus, earth receives energy from the sun and returns some
of this energy to space.

The Earth Subsystems

Earth systems has four components or subsystems as shown in Figure 3.

The arrows in the diagram indicate the interaction among the components. At
the top, solar energy drives many of the environmental processes operating in
the four spheres. The Earth's internal heat engine and the gravitational
attraction of the moon are additional sources of energy to power Earth systems.
There is a constant cycling of energy and mass between the hydrosphere,
lithosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere as indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3: The Earth system.

(Source: https://www.earthonlinemedia.com)

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 Atmosphere

 The thin gaseous layer that envelopes the lithosphere.

 The present atmosphere is composed of 78% nitrogen (N), 21% oxygen

(O2), 0.9% argon, and trace amount of other gases.

 One of the most important processes by which the heat on the Earth's
surface is redistributed is through atmospheric circulation.

 There is also constant exchange of heat and moisture between the

atmosphere and the hydrosphere through the hydrologic cycle.

The Parts of the atmosphere are outlined below:

1. Troposphere. This part starts at the Earth’s surface and extends 8 to

14.5 kilometers high. It is considered the densest among the other parts
of the atmosphere. Almost all weather types are in this region.

2. Stratosphere. Above the troposphere is the stratosphere. It extends up to

50 kilometers high. It is in this region where we ca find the ozone layer
which absorbs and scatters the solar ultraviolet radiation.

3. Mesosphere. This region is above the stratosphere and extends to 85

kilometers. Meteors usually burn up in this region as they approach our
planet.

4. Thermosphere. It extends up to 600 kilometers above the mesosphere. It

is where aurora and satellite occur.

5. Ionosphere. Part of our atmosphere where abundant layers of electron,

ionized atoms and molecules occur. It extends from about 48 kilometers
above the surface to the edge of space up to 965 km. This region grows
and shrinks and is dependent on solar conditions. It is subdivided into
the several sub-regions. The ionosphere is critical link in the chain of the
sun-earth interactions. This region makes radio communications possible.

6. Exosphere. This is the upper limit of our atmosphere. It extends from the
top of the thermometer up to 10000 km (6200 mi).

Lithosphere
 Makes up the solid portion of the Earth.

 Includes the rocks of the crust and mantle, the metallic liquid outer core,
and the solid metallic inner core.

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  Plate Tectonics is an important process shaping the surface of the Earth.
The primary driving mechanism is the Earth's internal heat, such as that
in mantle convection.

Biosphere.

 The set of all life forms on Earth.

 It covers all ecosystems—from the soil to the rainforest, from mangroves

to coral reefs, and from the plankton-rich ocean surface to the deep sea.

 For the majority of life on Earth, the base of the food chain comprises
photosynthetic organisms. During photosynthesis, CO2 is sequestered
from the atmosphere, while oxygen is released as a byproduct.

 The biosphere is a CO2 sink, and therefore, an important part of the

carbon cycle.

Hydrosphere

 About 70% of the Earth is covered with liquid water (hydrosphere) and
much of it is in the form of ocean water (Figure 3).

 Only 3% of Earth's water is fresh: two-thirds are in the form of ice, and
the remaining one-third is present in streams, lakes, and groundwater.

 The oceans are important sinks for CO2 through direct exchange with the
atmosphere and indirectly through the weathering of rocks.

 Heat is absorbed and redistributed on the surface of the Earth through

ocean circulation.

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 What’s More

Activity 1. Earth Systems Interacting

What you need:
paper
pen
What to do:

Scientists break down Earth’s major systems into four, the geosphere,
hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. These systems interact in multiple
ways to affect Earth’s surface materials and processes.
In this activity, choose the systems that are working together to create the
following phenomenon.
Write only the first letter of the four subsystems interacting.

B = Biosphere L = Lithosphere
A = Atmosphere H=Hydrosphere

Subsystems
Phenomena
Interacting
1. Mountain range blocks rainfall from reaching an
area (rain shadow), making it a dry, desert biome.
2. The oceans supports many ecosystems from coral
reefs to tide pools.
3. A sudden rainstorm in the desert can cause flooding
and severe erosion, changing the landscape.
4. Volcanic vents in the ocean create habitats for
creatures that live in or near the intense heat.
5. The troposphere is where evaporating water from
the ocean forms clouds and precipitation.
6. Wave action from strong winds causes the coastline
to erode.
7. Warming of the oceans with climate change may be
causing the increased violence in storms.
8. Daily rain and equator warmth creates the perfect
weather for the Amazon Rainforest.
9. Winds sweep across deserts raising giant sandstorm
that change the landscape

Assessment:

1. What can you say about the Earth’s subsystems?

2. Can one subsystem be independent from the rest?
3. Which sphere extends from the Earth’s core to the Earth’s crust?
4. How does biosphere depend on the atmosphere and hydrosphere to
survive?

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 Activity 2. Where Do I Belong?

Identify which subsystems each items belong.

_______________ 1. Frog
_______________ 2. Plants
_______________ 3. Stratosphere
_______________ 4. Sea
_______________ 5. Troposphere
_______________ 6. Alligator
_______________ 7. River
_______________ 8. Ocean
_______________9. Mountain
_______________10. Crust

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Lesson

2 Earth’s Interior
There is more to the Earth than what e can see on the surface. In fact, if you
were able to hold the earth in your hand and slice it in half, you’d see that it has
multiple layers. But of course, the interior of our world continues to hold some
mysteries for us. Even as we intrepidly explore other worlds and deploy satellites
into orbit, the inner recesses of our planet remains off limit from us.
This lesson will help you describe the Earth’s interior (in terms of crust,
mantle, core); and compare the Earth’s layers

What’s In

Like all terrestrial planets, The Earth’s interior is differentiated. This means
that its internal structure consists of layers, arranged like the skin of an onion.
Peel back one and you find another distinguished from the last by its chemical
and geologic properties as well as the vast difference in temperature and
pressure.

Before we dig dipper, do the word search puzzle and fill in the words on the
sentences below to complete its meaning.

Layers of the Earth Vocabulary

Find the words in the puzzle below. Then, answer the questions.

Earth Crust Layers Mantle

Core Rocky Surface Solid

E A R H V T N E U U E A R M S V
L A Y E R S K G M S F E I A U U
N T E R T V Y T H J A C A N R T
M H I S O B K R G R O W E T F W
F S U R F A C E T K K S O L I D
L R L U I O O H G I W V R E S U
C R E G K A R C O R E C U S I U
C O X F Q D P O M V Y T O R A B

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 1. The ____________ has three main layers.
2. The crust, mantle, and core are the three main _____________.
3. The ________________ is the outermost layer of the Earth.
4. The ________________ is between the crust and the core.
5. The __________________ is located in the center of the Earth.
6. The Earth’s ________________ is also called the crust.
7. The inner core of the earth has too much pressure making it
_____________.
8. Earth’s crust is ________________ that can break during earthquakes.

What’s New

. Layers of the Earth

Draw, color and label the layers of the earth on a separate sheet of
paper.

Guide Questions:

1. Which layer do you think is the hottest?

2. Which layer is the thinnest?
3. In which layer are living organisms can be found?

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 What is It

The Four Layers of the Earth

The Earth is composed of four different layers. Many geologists believe that
as the Earth cooled the heavier, denser materials sank to the center and the lighter
materials rose to the top. Because of this, the crust is made of the lightest
materials (rock- basalts and granites) and the core consists of heavy metals (nickel
and iron).

The crust is the layer that you live on, and it is the most widely studied and
understood. The mantle is much hotter and has the ability to flow. The Outer and
Inner Cores are hotter still with pressures so great that you would be squeezed into
a ball smaller than a marble if you were able to go to the center of the Earth!!!!!!

Figure 1. Layers of the Earth

Source: http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/earths-layers-lesson-1

The Crust

The Earth's Crust is like the skin of an apple. It is very thin in comparison to
the other three layers. The crust is only about 3-5 miles (8 kilometers) thick under
the oceans(oceanic crust) and about 25 miles (32 kilometers) thick under the
continents (continental crust). The temperatures of the crust vary from air
temperature on top to about 1600 degrees Fahrenheit (870 degrees Celsius) in the
deepest parts of the crust. You can bake a loaf of bread in your oven at 350 degrees
Fahrenheit , at 1600 degrees F. rocks begin to melt.

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 The crust of the Earth is broken into many pieces called plates. The plates
"float" on the soft, plastic mantle which is located below the crust. These plates
usually move along smoothly but sometimes they stick and build up pressure. The
pressure builds and the rock bends until it snaps. When this occurs an
Earthquake is the result!

Notice how thin the crust of the Earth is in comparison to the other layers.
The seven continents and ocean plates basically float across the mantle which is
composed of much hotter and denser material.

The crust is made up of large rocks. It is divided into two forms; the
continental crust and the oceanic crust. Continental Crust is composed of the
elements iron, oxygen, magnesium, and aluminum while oceanic crust is made up
of granite, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.

Figure 2. Layers Thickness

Source: http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/earths-layers-lesson-1

The crust and the upper layer of the mantle together make up a zone of
rigid, brittle rock called the Lithosphere. The layer below the rigid lithosphere is a
zone of asphalt-like consistency called the Asthenosphere. The asthenosphere is
the part of the mantle that flows and moves the plates of the Earth.

The Mantle

The mantle is the layer located directly under the sima. It is the largest layer
of the Earth, 1800 miles thick. The mantle is composed of very hot, dense rock.
This layer of rock even flows like asphalt under a heavy weight. This flow is due to
great temperature differences from the bottom to the top of the mantle. The
movement of the mantle is the reason that the plates of the Earth move! The

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temperature of the mantle varies from 1600 degrees Fahrenheit at the top to about
4000 degrees Fahrenheit near the bottom!

Figure 3. Convection current in the Mantle

Image Source: http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/earths-layers-lesson-1

Outer Core

The core of the Earth is like a ball of very hot metals. (4000 degrees F. to
9000 degrees F.) The outer core is so hot that the metals in it are all in the liquid
state. The outer core is located about 1800 miles beneath the crust and is about
1400 miles thick. The outer core is composed of the melted metals nickel and iron.

Figure 3. Diagram showing the Outer Core

Image Source: http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/earths-layers-lesson-1

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Inner Core

The inner core of the Earth has temperatures and pressures so great that
the metals are squeezed together and are not able to move about like a liquid, but
are forced to vibrate in place as a solid. The inner core begins about 4000 miles
beneath the crust and is about 800 miles thick. The temperatures may reach 9000
degrees F and the pressures are 45,000,000 pounds per square inch. This is
3,000,000 times the air pressure on you at sea level!

What’s More

Activity 1. Your Face Looks Familiar!

What you need:

Any clean recyclable materials

Coloring materials/art materials
Adhesives

What to do:

1. Using the recyclable materials, conceptualize your own model of the

layers of the Earth.
2. Construct your Earth’s layer model. Make sure that the difference
between each layer will be clear in your own model.

Assessment:

1. What recyclable material did you use in your model?

2. Why did you choose that material?
3. Pretend that you are to present your model to your classmate. Write
how you will describe to them each layer.
4. Are you satisfied with the model you have made? If you will improve it
what changes are you going to make?

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 Activity 2. Layers of the Earth

What you need:

Paper
Pen
What to do: Our planet earth is constructed of layers. Match the layers to
their definitions.

A. The innermost layer, extremely hot and

1. lithosphere solid, composed of mostly iron and
nickel.

B. The earth’s outermost and thinnest layer,

2. outer core
hard and rigid, and only a few meters thick
under the oceans and averaging 20 miles thick
under the continents

3. crust C. Hot, malleable semiliquid in the upper

mantle on which the plates of the lithosphere
floats
D. Made up of the crust and a tiny bit of the
4. mantle upper mantle, this layer is divided up into
constantly moving plates of solid rock that
hold the continents and the oceans.

5. asthenosphere E. A dense layer subdivided into upper and

lower regions made of hot, semisolid rock
located directly below the crust and about
1,800 miles thick.

F. The only liquid layer of the earth, this layer

6. inner core is made up mostly of iron and nickel. It is
located about miles below the surface.

What I Have Learned

A. TRUE OR FALSE. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

___________ 1. Earth is a subsystem.

___________ 2. Atmosphere is comprised of the solid portion of the Earth.
___________ 3. The crust of the Earth consists mostly of granite and marble.
___________ 4. Hydrosphere is one of the four subsystems.
___________ 5. The Earths subsystems exists independently from each other.

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 B. Answer the following questions:

1. Name the four layers of the Earth in order from the outside to the
center of the Earth. ___________, ___________, ___________, ____________

2. What causes the mantle to "flow"? ___________________________________

3. What are the two forms of crust?______________ and _________________

What I Can Do
4.

Do the following:

A. Give one example of a phenomena or observation from your

surroundings where the interactions of the Earth’s systems are
evident. Explain how the systems interact.
B. Describe in your own words how the Earth's layers were formed.

Assessment

Directions: Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the
chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.

1. All living organisms of the earth, including those on the land, water and air, are
considered part of which subsystem?
A. Atmosphere C. Biosphere
B. Geosphere D. Hydrosphere
2. Which of the following is NOT one of the four major geological subsystems of the
earth?
A. Atmosphere C. Biosphere
B. Geosphere D. Watersphere
3. Which is the most appropriate description of the hydrosphere?
A. The mixture of gases that surround the earth.
B. The waters on earth including subsurface.
C. Only surface water on earth.
b. Only atmospheric water.
4. When carbon dioxide dissolves from the air into the ocean the interaction is
between.
A. The atmosphere and hydrosphere
B. The atmosphere and atmosphere

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 C. The atmosphere and lithosphere
D. The atmosphere and biosphere
5. Which is the largest portion of the Earth’s mass and volume?
A. Core C. magma
B. Crust D. Mantle
6. Which is an example of a connection between hydrosphere and geosphere?
A. animals eat plants
B. boats transporting goods
C. waves eroding rocks on beach
C. water evaporating to make clouds
7. Which is the thinnest layer of the Earth?
A. Crust C. Mantle
B. Inner core D. Outer core
8. The Earth is composed of a complex set of cycles, parts and processes that all
work together as a__________.
A. System C. Factory
B. Planet D. Unit
9. Which subsystems involve the minerals and rocks on earth?
A. Atmosphere C. lithosphere
B. Biosphere D. hydrosphere
10. Which of the following spheres contain all the gases that envelope the earth?
A. Hydrosphere C. Lithosphere
B. Biosphere D. Atmosphere
11. Which subsystem interacts when nitrogen is returned to the soil when dead
plants decompose?
A. The lithosphere and atmosphere
B. The biosphere and atmosphere
C. The biosphere and lithosphere
D. The atmosphere and lithosphere
12. Which layer produces the earth’s magnetic field.
A. crust C. mantle
B. inner core D. outer core
13. What is the lithosphere composed of?
A. The continental and oceanic crust
B. The crust and upper most mantle
C. The lower mantle
D. The upper mantle
14. Which layer of the earth’s interior is liquid?
A. Crust C. Outer core
B. Inner core D. Mantle
15. Which is TRUE about biogeochemical cycle?
A. It is an interaction between and among the spheres
B. It is an interaction between biosphere and lithosphere only
C. It is an interaction between lithosphere and atmosphere only.
D. It is an interaction between the lithosphere and hydrosphere only.

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 20
Assessment
1. C 2. D 3. B 4. A 5. D 6. C 7. A 8. A 9. C 10. D 11. B 12. D 13. B 14. C 15. A
What I Have Learned
A. 1.F 2. F 3. F 4. T 5. F
B. 1. Crust, mantle, outer core, inner core
2. Due to the great temperature difference from the top of the mantle.
3. Continental Crust and Oceanic crust
What’s More
Activity 2
1. D; 2. F; 3. B. 4. E; 5. C; 6. A
What’s In
1. Earth; 2. Layers;3. Crust; 4. Mantle; 5. Core; 6. Surface; 7. Solid; 8. Rocky
Lesson 2
What’s More
Activity 1
1. L & H; 2. H & B; 3. H & L; 4. L & B; 5. A & H; 6. A, H, & L 7. H & A 8.
H, A, L; 9. A, L & A
Activity 2
1. Biosphere; 4. Hydrosphere; 7. Hydrosphere;
2. Biosphere; 5. Atmosphere; 8. Hydrosphere;
3. Atmosphere; 6. Biosphere; 9 Lithosphere 10. Lithosphere
What’s In
1. Evaporation 2. Condensation 3. Precipitation
4. Infiltration 5. Transpiration 6. Surface run-off
Lesson 1
What I know
1. B 2. C 3. D 4. D 5. A 6. C 7. A 8. A 9. D 10. B 11.
D 12. B 13. C 14. C 15. C
Answer Key
point out the interactions of the subsystems in it.
Draw the nitrogen cycle on a separate sheet of paper and
Additional Activities