This is the Earth and Life Science Quarter 1 Module 2 self-learning module for Senior High School, titled “Origin and Structure of the Earth (The Subsystem).” It was developed by DepEd Region IV-A CALABARZON as part of the Alternative Delivery Mode (First Edition, 2021). It has one lesson. After it, learners should be able to name the Earth’s four subsystems, describe each one, and explain how matter and energy move between them.
On this page 7 sections
What learners will learn
After going through this module, learners are expected to:
- determine the four subsystems of the Earth;
- describe the characteristics of each subsystem;
- trace the flow of matter and energy in the Earth’s subsystems; and
- express their role as stewards of the four subsystems in the flow of matter and energy.
Lessons in this module
- Lesson 1: The Subsystems of the Earth. It introduces the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere, then shows how they connect and exchange matter and energy.
The four subsystems of the Earth
The lesson begins by calling Earth the “water planet” or “blue planet,” because seas cover more than two-thirds of its surface. It is also the only body we know that supports life. The module then describes the four subsystems:
| Subsystem | What it is | Key facts from the module |
|---|---|---|
| Atmosphere (air) | The gaseous layer above the Earth’s surface | About 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. Argon, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, and other gases make up the last 1%. |
| Biosphere (living things) | The zone where all forms of life exist, in the sea, on land, and in the air | Sometimes called the large ecosystem. It is a very thin layer of the Earth’s surface. |
| Geosphere (land) | The solid Earth, from the center of the core to the outer crust | Includes the core, mantle, and crust. The crust is the thin outer layer of solid rock. |
| Hydrosphere (water) | The water part of the Earth | Water moves among oceans, continents, glaciers, and the atmosphere. Oceans cover 71% of the Earth and hold 97.5% of its water. |
The module also explains how the atmosphere supports life. Animals need oxygen, and plants need both carbon dioxide and oxygen. Air regulates climate by acting as a blanket and a filter. It holds in heat at night and shields living things from direct solar radiation during the day. The ozone layer, part of the atmosphere, protects plants and animals from too much ultraviolet radiation.
How matter and energy flow between the subsystems
The module describes Earth as a complex system made of smaller systems. Matter and energy cycle through all of them continuously. Energy moves through the atmosphere mostly by convection. It gives these examples of exchange:
- The atmosphere gives the geosphere the heat and energy needed to break down and erode rocks.
- The biosphere gets gases, heat, and sunlight from the atmosphere.
- The biosphere gets water from the hydrosphere and a living medium from the geosphere.
The assessment adds more interactions to remember:
- Atmosphere and geosphere: a volcanic eruption releasing gas.
- Atmosphere and hydrosphere: rain, and carbon dioxide dissolving from the air into the ocean.
- Biosphere and atmosphere: plants producing oxygen.
- Hydrosphere and geosphere: waves eroding rocks on a beach.
- Biosphere and geosphere: nitrogen returning to the soil as dead plants decompose.
Activity 1.1, “We are Connected!”, uses John Muir’s quote, “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” Learners explain how the four spheres, all powered by solar energy, depend on one another.
How to use this module
The module follows the usual self-learning module parts, in this order:
- What I Know: a 15-item multiple-choice pretest.
- What’s In: a short story about a stormy rocky coast. Learners sort its words into Air, Water, Land, and With Life.
- What’s New: learners label four pictures, including a chart of atmospheric gases and a cutaway of the Earth’s layers.
- What is It and What I Have Learned: the main discussion of the subsystems.
- What’s More: Activity 1.1, “We are Connected!”
- What I Can Do: learners write a five-item “My Environmental To Do List” of ways to help save the Earth.
- Assessment: a 15-item multiple-choice post-test.
- Additional Activities: “Connect Me Spheres,” which asks how the spheres interacted after the Taal Volcano eruption.
For learners: Write all answers on a separate sheet of paper and keep the module free of marks. Take the pretest first to see what you already know. Check your work with the answer key at the end, honestly.
For parents: Help your child work through the parts in order. Encourage them to finish the activities before looking at the answer key.
For teachers: The answer key covers the pretest, What’s More, and the Assessment. Some pretest answers in the key do not match the lesson (for example, items 3 and 14). Check these before learners grade their own work. The open-ended tasks (What I Can Do and Connect Me Spheres) have no key and need your feedback.
Frequently asked questions
What grade and quarter is this Earth and Life Science module for?
It is Quarter 1, Module 2 of Earth and Life Science, a Senior High School subject. The module says Senior High School but does not name a specific grade.
What are the four subsystems of the Earth?
They are the atmosphere (air), biosphere (living things), geosphere (land), and hydrosphere (water). Matter and energy flow across their boundaries.
What is the Earth’s atmosphere made of?
According to the module, it is about 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. Gases such as argon, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone make up the remaining 1%.
Does the module have an answer key?
Yes. It has answers for the pretest, the What’s More activity, and the 15-item assessment. A few pretest answers in the key do not match the lesson, so check them against the discussion.
What is an example of interaction between the spheres?
Waves eroding rocks on a beach connect the hydrosphere and geosphere. Plants producing oxygen connect the biosphere and atmosphere.
Full text of the module
The text below is a transcription of the PDF above, as printed.
Earth and Life Science Quarter 1 – Module 2: Origin and Structure of the Earth (The Subsystem)
Senior High School
[illustration: students reading and writing with a teacher, a globe, and a lantern]
CO_Q1_ELS SHS Module 2
Earth and Life Science Alternative Delivery Mode Quarter 1 – Module 2: Origin and Structure of the Earth – The Subsystem First Edition, 2021
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Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names, trademarks, etc.) included in this module are owned by their respective copyright holders. Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use these materials from their respective copyright owners. The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim ownership over them.
Published by the Department of Education
Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio
Development Team of the Module
Writers: Rochelle M. Mercado
Editors: Melanie I. Samudio, Jocelyn M. Manset
Reviewer: Jason Ricaforte, Angelica Beriña
Princess Paolah L. De Guzman, Marissa C. Betchaida, Louie L. Alvarez
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Earth and Life Science
Quarter 1 – Module 2: Origin and Structure of the Earth (The Subsystem)
Senior High School
Introductory Message
This Self-Learning Module (SLM) is prepared so that you, our dear learners, can continue your studies and learn while at home. Activities, questions, directions, exercises, and discussions are carefully stated for you to understand each lesson.
Each SLM is composed of different parts. Each part shall guide you step-by-step as you discover and understand the lesson prepared for you.
Pre-tests are provided to measure your prior knowledge on lessons in each SLM. This will tell you if you need to proceed on completing this module or if you need to ask your facilitator or your teacher’s assistance for better understanding of the lesson. At the end of each module, you need to answer the post-test to self-check your learning. Answer keys are provided for each activity and test. We trust that you will be honest in using these.
In addition to the material in the main text, Notes to the Teacher are also provided to our facilitators and parents for strategies and reminders on how they can best help you on your home-based learning.
Please use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary marks on any part of this SLM. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises and tests. And read the instructions carefully before performing each task.
If you have any questions in using this SLM or any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator.
Thank you.
What I Need to Know
This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you master the nature of Biology. 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.
The module is composed of:
- Lesson 1 – The Subsystems of the Earth
After going through this module, you are expected to:
- determine the four subsystems of the Earth;
- describe the characteristics of each subsystem;
- trace the flow of matter and energy in the Earth’s subsystems; and
- express one’s internalized role as steward of the four subsystems concerning the flow of matter and energy.
What I Know
Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.
Which of the following is NOT one of the four subsystems of the Earth?
A. biosphere
B. hydrosphere
C. water sphere
D. geosphereAll of the waters, including subsurface and atmospheric water comprise the Earth. Which geological subsystem best label the statement?
A. the geosphere
B. the hydrosphere
C. the biosphere
D. the atmosphereEarth contains all living organisms including those on the land, in the water and air. Which subsystem best describes the statement?
A. biosphere
B. hydrosphere
C. atmosphere
D. geosphereWhich subsystem suits the statement, “Global ecological system interacting with each other”?
A. biosphere
B. geosphere
C. hydrosphere
D. atmosphereWhat subsystem will network with biosphere for photosynthesis to take place?
A. atmosphere
B. geosphere
C. hydrosphere
D. biosphereOxygen, water vapor, nitrogen, and other gases help organism to survive. Which Earth sphere contain these materials?
A. biosphere
B. atmosphere
C. hydrosphere
D. geosphereWhich term is used to describe the thin layer of solid rock that makes up the outermost part of the Earth?
A. core
B. crust
C. mantle
D. biosphereAmong the subsystems, which is composed of a mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth?
A. nitrogen
B. atmosphere
C. biosphere
D. kingdomsThe atmosphere of the Earth is composed of _____ nitrogen and _____ oxygen and other gases.
A. 0% and 100%
B. 21% and 78%
C. 78% and 21%
D. 505 and 505In what subsystem of the Earth are the rocks and mineral found?
A. atmosphere
B. biosphere
C. hydrosphere
D. geosphereWhat part of the Earth’s sphere makes up hydrosphere?
A. glaciers
B. groundwater
C. seawater and inland water
D. all of the aboveWhich gas dominates the Earth’s atmosphere?
A. CO2 – Cardon Dioxide
B. He – Helium
C. N2 – Nitrogen
D. O2 – OxygenOzone plays an important part for organisms to stay alive. To what sphere does ozone belong?
A. atmosphere
B. biosphere
C. geosphere
D. hydrosphereWhich answer best describes the role of the ozone layer?
A. It traps heat from the sun to heat the planet.
B. It protects the plants and animals on earth from receiving too much ultraviolet radiation.
C. It cools the earth through the evaporation of water vapor
D. It keeps the oxygen in the atmosphere closest to Earth and the nitrogen separated in the atmosphere.Human actions greatly affect the Earth itself. Which of the following is an example of a human impact of the biosphere?
A. littering
B. air pollution
C. water pollution
D. littering, air and water pollution
Lesson 1 Origin and Structure of the Earth – The Subsystem
Earth is sometimes called the “water planet” or the “blue planet” because seas cover more than two-thirds of its surface. Earth is the only planet in the solar system with rain that falls from clouds, runs over the land, and collects in extensive oceans. It is also the only body we know that supports life. This self-learning module will help you understand the subsystem of the planet where you stand right now.
What’s In
Read the statement below and fill the table with the needed answers.
Imagine walking along a rocky coast as a storm blows in from the sea. The wind whips the ocean into whitecaps, and waves crash onto the shore. Before you have time to escape, blowing spray has soaked your clothes. A hard rain begins as you scrambled over the rocks to your car. During the adventure, you have observed the spheres of the Earth.
List down the terms that are used in the statement that reflects to what made up the Earth. Categorize them based on the following:
| Air | Water | Land | With Life |
|---|---|---|---|
What’s New
Subsystems of the Earth
Analyze and label the given picture. From the picture, create a general concept on each picture and identify the physical characteristics of the subsystem of the Earth. Differentiate one with the other. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
[chart: pie diagram of gases in the atmosphere; labels: Nitrogen, Oxygen] Values are not labeled on the chart.
[illustration: cutaway of the Earth showing its layers; labels: CRUST, MANTLE, OUTER CORE, INNER CORE]
[illustration: rocky landscape with waves over water]
[illustration: globe of the Earth]
(A) (B) (C) (D)
What is It
Subsystems of the Earth
The four subsystems of the Earth are:
- Atmosphere – the gaseous layer above the Earth’s surface primarily composed of different gases such as nitrogen and oxygen.
- Biosphere – the zone of the Earth where all forms of life exist. This serves as the ecosystem of all living and non- living organisms.
- Geosphere – the solid part of the Earth that consists the entire planet from the center of the core to the outer crust. It includes core, mantle, and crust of the Earth.
- Hydrosphere – the water part of the Earth that includes oceans and glaciers.
What’s More
Activity 1.1 We are Connected!
According to John Muir, “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” How is the given diagram related to the said quote? How does the four subsystem of the Earth connect with each other? Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
[chart: diagram of the subsystems; labels: Solar Energy (arrows pointing down toward the circles), Geosphere, Atmosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere; double-headed arrows link the spheres to one another]
What I Have Learned
Subsystems of the Earth
The four subsystems of the Earth are:
-
- Atmosphere – it is the gaseous layer above the Earth’s surface, primarily composed of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. Other gases like argon, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, and other inert gases made the remaining 1%. The atmosphere supports life because animals and oxygen, and plants need both carbon dioxide and oxygen. In addition, the atmosphere supports life indirectly by regulating climate. Air acts as both a blanket and a filter, retaining heat at night and shielding from direct solar radiation during the day.
Biosphere – the zone of Earth where all forms of life exist: in the sea, on land, and in water. It is sometimes called as the large ecosystem. This is the zone that life inhabits. Biosphere is a very thin layer of the earth’s surface.
Geosphere – the solid Earth, consisting of the entire planet from the center of the core to the outer crust. It includes the core, mantle, and crust of the Earth.
Hydrosphere – the water part of the Earth which circulates among oceans, continents, glaciers, and atmosphere. Oceans cover 71% of the Earth and contain 97.5% of its water.
Earth is a complex system made up of many smaller systems through which matter and energy are continuously cycled. Energy and matter flow through Earth’s spheres: geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. Energy flows through the atmosphere mostly by convection. How does matter and energy flow across the four subsystems of the Earth? The Earth consists of four subsystems, across whose boundaries matter and energy flows, the atmosphere (air), biosphere (living things), hydrosphere (water), and geosphere (land). The atmosphere provides the geosphere with heat and energy needed for rock breakdown and erosion. The biosphere receives gases, heat, and sunlight (energy) from the atmosphere. It receives water from the hydrosphere and a living medium from the geosphere.
What I Can Do
The human population has increased rapidly since the 1700’s. For most of human history, there were fewer than half-billion people on Earth. In mid- 2009, 6.7 billion people inhabited our planet. Because of these, extensive pollution is everywhere. As a student, what can you do to save not only a particular system, but the Earth itself? Tabulate your answer on a separate sheet of paper . Copy the template below.
| MY ENVIRONMENTAL “TO DO” LIST | |
|---|---|
| 1. | |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. |
Assessment
Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.
Earth includes beach grasses, forms of life in the sea, on land, and even in the air. Which term best describes the statement?
- A. atmosphere
- B. biosphere
- C. geosphere
- D. hydrosphere
Which system of the Earth is considered as the largest component of the Earth?
- A. atmosphere
- B. biosphere
- C. geosphere
- D. hydrosphere
Life is supported by oxygen and carbon dioxide. Which subsystem will best describe the statement?
- A. atmosphere
- B. biosphere
- C. geosphere
- D. hydrosphere
Relationship between the complex communities of individual organism is seen in the different systems of the Earth. What do you call the unit in nature?
- A. ecosystem
- B. complexity
- C. ground
- D. system
All of earth’s cycles and spheres are interconnected. Why is this so?
- A. because they are interconnected
- B. because Earth is where we live in
- C. because Earth is the only living planet
- D. because every organism has its own function in the Earth
What is an example of a connection between atmosphere and geosphere?
- A. water
- B. nitrogen
- C. mountains
- D. volcanic eruption release gas
Which among the choices is an example of a connection between atmosphere and hydrosphere?
- A. lakes
- B. rain
- C. rivers
- D. rocks
From the given choices, which is an example of a connection between biosphere connecting to atmosphere?
- A. Animals eat plants.
- B. Animals drink water.
- C. Animals lie in caves.
- D. Plants produce oxygen.
Among the choices, which clearly gives an example of connection between hydrosphere and geosphere?
- A. boats transporting goods
- B. fish swimming in water
- C. water evaporating to make clouds
- D. waves eroding rocks on beach
All living things, including land and sea made up the Earth. Which term best described the statement?
- A. geosphere
- B. ozone layer
- C. atmosphere
- D. biosphere
When nitrogen is returned to the soil when dead plants decompose is an interaction that occurs in what system?
- A. biosphere and atmosphere
- B. geosphere and atmosphere
- C. biosphere and geosphere
- D. atmosphere and geosphere
Carbon dioxide dissolving from the air into the ocean is an interaction that occurs in which system?
- A. atmosphere and hydrosphere
- B. atmosphere and atmosphere
- C. atmosphere and geosphere
- D. atmosphere and biosphere
The atmosphere of the Earth is composed of _____ oxygen and _____ nitrogen and other gases.
- A. 0% and 100%
- B. 21% and 78%
- C. 78% and 21%
- D. 50% and 50%
A thin layer of solid rock that makes up the outermost part of the Earth is visible to which part of geosphere?
- A. core
- B. crust
- C. mantle
- D. biosphere
Ozone plays an important function in every single organism on Earth. To what sphere does ozone layer belong?
- A. atmosphere
- B. biosphere
- C. geosphere
- D. hydrosphere
Additional Activities
“Connect Me Spheres”
Procedure: Analyze the interactions of the spheres after the onslaught of Taal Volcano. Answer the questions that follow. Use a separate sheet of paper for your answers.
[chart: diagram of sphere interactions after the Taal Volcano event; labels: Event (center), Hydro, Atmo, Geo, Bio; double-headed arrows link the spheres to each other and to Event]
- What sphere caused the event?
- What are the effects of the event on one or more spheres?
- What is the global implication of the event?
Answer Key
What I Know
- C
- B
- D
- A
- A
- B
- B
- B
- C
- D
- D
- C
- A
- C
- A
[transcriber’s note: this page is printed upside down; the answers are transcribed right side up]
What’s More
The Earth consists of four subsystems, across whose boundaries matter and energy flows, the atmosphere (air), biosphere (living things), hydrosphere (water), and geosphere (land). The atmosphere provides the geosphere with heat and energy needed for rock breakdown and erosion. The biosphere receives gases, heat, and sunlight (energy) from the atmosphere. It receives water from the hydrosphere and a living medium from the geosphere.
Assessment
- B
- C
- A
- A
- D
- D
- B
- D
- D
- D
- C
- A
- B
- B
- A
References
Earth’s Four Subsystems, Seattle Pi, accessed May 29, 2020, https://education.seattlepi.com/earth-four-subsystems-work-together-4634.html
Earth System, Science Learning Hub, accessed May 30, 2020, https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/720-earth-system
Major Geological Subsystem of Earth, Study.Com, accessed May 30, 2020, https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-4-major-geological-subsystem-of-earth.html?
Thompson, Graham R. et al. 2012. Introduction to Earth Science. Pasig City: Cengage Learning Asia.
For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:
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Email Address: blr.lrqad@deped.gov.ph * blr.lrpd@deped.gov.ph
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