WEEKLY LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

Earth and Life Science Grade 11, Quarter 1, Week 1B

Earth: Its Four Subsystems

Name: ___________________________________________ Section: ____________________

Most Essential Learning Competency (MELC):

Explain that the Earth consists of four subsystems, across whose boundaries matter and
energy flow (S11/12ES-Ia-e- 4).

Specific Objectives:
1. Enumerate and describe the four subsystems of the Earth.
2. Explain how matter and energy flow in the systems.
3. Identify the importance of the subsystem to its biotic components.

Time Allotment: 2 hours

Key Concepts

The Four Speres

• Earth, as we know it, is a system composed of interdependent parts enclosed within
a defined boundary. The geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere
make up the four interrelated "spheres" that make up the Earth's boundaries. These
“spheres” are a system within a system or a subsystem that supports the foundation
of the very earth itself. Because the spheres are so intertwined, a change in one often
results in a change in one or more of the others.
• The geosphere is made up of Earth's interior and
surface, which are both made up of rocks. There are
three major layers to the geosphere: a dense metallic
core, a less dense rocky mantle, and an even less
dense surface crust. The core is the dense, metallic,
innermost region of Earth’s geosphere, consisting Crust
mainly of iron and nickel. The outer core is molten,
but the inner core is solid. The mantle is the rocky,
mostly solid layer of Earth’s geosphere lying beneath
the crust and above the core. The mantle extends Mantle
from the base of the crust to a depth of about 2,900
kilometers. The crust is the outermost layer of Earth’s
geosphere, ranging from 4 to 75 kilometers thick and
composed of relative low-density silicate rocks.

Outer
Core
Figure 1.a: The Geosphere. Illustration from Earth Science: An
Introduction.

Inner
Core

Author: OMBROSA, King Royd Tyronne C.

School/Station: Trento National High School
Division: Agusan del Sur
email address: kingroydtyronne.ombrosa@deped.gov.ph
 • All of Earth's water cycles between
oceans, continents, glaciers, and the
atmosphere, making up the
hydrosphere. Oceans span 71% of the
Earth's surface and hold 97.5 percent of
its water. Glaciers hold about 1.8 percent
of the world's water. Lakes, rivers, and
clear, sparkling streams are the most
visible reservoirs of continental water, but
they constitute only 0.01 percent of
Earth’s water.

Figure 1.b: Water distribution on Earth.

Illustration from Earth Science: An Introduction.

• The atmosphere is made up of a variety of gases, the majority of which are nitrogen
and oxygen, with minor amounts of argon, carbon dioxide, and other gases. Gravity
holds it to Earth, and it thins out quickly as it rises in altitude. Ninety-nine percent
of atmospheric gas is concentrated in the first 30 kilometers, but traces of
atmospheric gas can be found as high as 10,000 kilometers above the surface of the
Earth.
• The biosphere is the area where life exists. The upper geosphere, the hydrosphere,
and the lower atmosphere are all included. Near the surface, where sunshine is
available, sea life accumulates. Plants grow on the surface of the Earth, having roots
that reach a few meters into the soil. Animals dwell on the surface, fly a few
kilometers above it, or dig a few meters beneath it. Large communities of bacteria
can be found under glacial ice and in rock up to 4 kilometers deep. On the ocean
floor, some organisms live, including vast ecosystems that rely on mineral-rich,
super-heated water ejected from vents along the mid-ocean ridges. A few windblown
microorganisms drift at heights of 10 kilometers or more. Despite these extremes,
the biosphere is a very thin layer at Earth’s surface.

The Flow of Energy and Material

• Energy and matter flow inside and across earth’s system in a series of cycle. A cycle
is a recurring activity or phenomena that starts at the beginning and then repeats
itself. Both matter and energy are conserved at all times during these cycles. They
never simply vanish, even if they may change shape on a regular basis. For example,
water evaporates from the ocean into the atmosphere, falls to Earth as rain or snow,
and eventually flows back to the oceans. Ultraviolet radiation that we cannot see
enters Earth’s atmosphere from the sun and heats up the surface which in turn
emits heat. All the spheres continuously exchange matter and energy.

Author: OMBROSA, King Royd Tyronne C.

School/Station: Trento National High School
Division: Agusan del Sur
email address: kingroydtyronne.ombrosa@deped.gov.ph
 Figure 2: The Interconnected Spheres.
Illustration from Earth Science: An Introduction.

The Importance of the Subsystems

• Because the Earth's “spheres” are so intertwined, a change in one often causes a
change in one or more of the others. Events are the term used to describe the
changes that occur within an ecosystem. Natural disasters, such as earthquakes and
hurricanes, can occur, as can human-caused disasters, such as an oil spill or air
pollution. Changes in one or more of the spheres can be caused by an event, and/or
changes in one or more of Earth's four spheres can be the result of an event. An
interaction is a two-way cause-and-effect relationship between an event and a
sphere. Interactions occur between the spheres as well. A change in the atmosphere,
for example, can result in a change in the hydrosphere, and vice versa. Below are
some few examples:

• Humans (biosphere) built a dam out of rock materials (lithosphere).

• Water in the lake (hydrosphere) seeps into the cliff walls behind the dam,
becoming groundwater (lithosphere), or evaporating into the air
(atmosphere).
• Humans (biosphere) harness energy from the water (hydrosphere) by having
it spin turbines (lithosphere) to produce electricity.

Author: OMBROSA, King Royd Tyronne C.

School/Station: Trento National High School
Division: Agusan del Sur
email address: kingroydtyronne.ombrosa@deped.gov.ph
 • Major human activities cause major destructions on Earth’s subsystems. Since
energy and matter is cycled within the spheres and being part of the system, these
harmful activities bring forth destruction to ourselves in a boomerang effect. For
instance, Global Warming, the long-term heating of Earth’s climate system observed
since the pre-industrial period (between 1850 and 1900) primarily caused by human
activities such as fossil fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas
levels in Earth’s atmosphere, creates ghastly effects on the natural environment and
the human lives.

Figure 3: El Niño damage to agriculture now at P7.96 billion – DA (2019).

Photo: Inoue Jaena/Rappler

Author: OMBROSA, King Royd Tyronne C.

School/Station: Trento National High School
Division: Agusan del Sur
email address: kingroydtyronne.ombrosa@deped.gov.ph
Activity No. 1: Energy Everywhere!
Objective: Identify the importance of the energies and materials in the four spheres of the planet.
What you need: Pen, Paper
What to do: Given are energy/material along the four “spheres” of the Earth, write down its
importance as it passes down the subsystem. Some are already filled in for you.

Material/Energy Geosphere Hydrosphere Atmosphere Biosphere

Example: Water Water fills in the Water creates Water is needed
Water transforms rock water bodies. snow and rain for
material to through water photosynthesis
another form cycle. and metabolic
such as soil. process.
1. Conduction of Facilitates
Light (from Sun) energy. evaporation.

2. Nutrients Atmosphere
Nutrients promotes life in bridges other
water bodies. system’s
nutrient cycle.
3. Essential gasses Major gasses are
Gasses are needed in essential for life.
some chemical
changes in land.

Activity No. 2: It’s a Domino Effect!

Objective: Identify the importance of the subsystem to its biotic components.
What you need: Pen, Paper
What to do: Given below are events both natural and manmade, explain the effects of these event
on the 4 spheres of the Earth. Note that effects could either be positive or negative. Draw a smiley
emoji if its positive and sad emoji if negative. An example is given below.

Event Geosphere Hydrosphere Atmosphere Biosphere

Example: Soil erosion. Water pollution. Air pollution Habitat loss, fish
Illegal Mining from burning of kill, increase of
trees during land diseases.
conversion.

1. Kaingin/Slash
and Burn.

2. Flooding

3. Volcanic
Eruption

Author: OMBROSA, King Royd Tyronne C.

School/Station: Trento National High School
Division: Agusan del Sur
email address: kingroydtyronne.ombrosa@deped.gov.ph
Activity No. 3: Saving the Spheres
Objective: Reflect on the negative effects of manmade events on each 4 spheres of the Earth.
What you need: Long bond paper, Art Materials
What to do: Think of a manmade event that could affect all four Earth’s subsystem. Create a
brochure that tells people the current situation of the subsystem due to these destructive
activities. Generate sections within the bond paper consisting of the four spheres then draw the
effects of said manmade event on each sphere. The brochure should have slogan/s pertaining to
the said destruction.

Example Format:

Sample issue title.

Deforestation in Region XIII Sample slogan.

“He who he plants trees not only loves himself but also others.”

Front of a Paper

Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere

Geosphere

Back of the Paper

Rubric
5 - Ideas are expressed scientifically, consistent to the concepts and has no misconception.
4 - Ideas are expressed scientifically, consistent to the concepts but with misconception.
3 - Ideas are expressed scientifically but contains several contradictory concepts.
2 - Ideas are poorly expressed scientifically.
1 - Ideas are vague and unprecise.
0 - No discussion.
Note: Score is multiplied by 2

Author: OMBROSA, King Royd Tyronne C.

School/Station: Trento National High School
Division: Agusan del Sur
email address: kingroydtyronne.ombrosa@deped.gov.ph
Reflection:

Refer on your brochure in Activity 3, should these manmade activities be continued? How
can you help solving these problems? Write your reflection in 3-4 sentences.

Rubrics
5 - Ideas are expressed scientifically, consistent to the concepts and has no misconception.
4 - Ideas are expressed scientifically, consistent to the concepts but with misconception.
3 - Ideas are expressed scientifically but contains several contradictory concepts.
2 - Ideas are poorly expressed scientifically.
1 - Ideas are vague and unprecise.
0 - No discussion.

References for the Learners:

Hendrix, Marc S, Graham R Thompson, and Jonathan Turk. 2021. Earth Science: An
Introduction. Boston: Cengage.

Montgomery, Carla W. 2020. Environmental Geology. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.

Tarbuck, Edward J, and Frederick Lutgens. 2015. Earth Science. England: Pearson Education
Limited.

DG Mackean, Dave Hayward. 2014. Biology Third Edition. London: Cambridge International.

Lapong, Edward, and Masayuki Fujihara. 2008. "Water Resources in the Philippines : An
Overview of its Uses, Management, Problems and Prospects." Journal of Rainwater
Catchment Systems 14(1):57-67.

Lehtinen, A.A. 2009. Environmental Justice. International Encyclopedia of Human Geography.

Author: OMBROSA, King Royd Tyronne C.

School/Station: Trento National High School
Division: Agusan del Sur
email address: kingroydtyronne.ombrosa@deped.gov.ph
 email address: kingroydtyronne.ombrosa@deped.gov.ph
Division: Agusan del Sur
School/Station: Trento National High School
Author: OMBROSA, King Royd Tyronne C.
Activity No. 3: Saving the spheres.
Answers vary/ Product-based.
Activity No. 2: Domino Effect
Answers may contain the following:
Event Geosphere Hydrosphere Atmosphere Biosphere
1. Infertile soil. Damage to Air Pollution. Loss of habitat.
Kaingin/Slash springs and
and Burn. streams.
2. Flooding Erosion. Creation of new Increase in Habitat
waterways such evaporation. conversion.
as streams and
other river.
3. Protected Erosion and Preserved water Regulates Protected
landscapes landslides bodies. natural water wildlife.
prevented. cycle.
4. Volcanic Land expansion, May create Increase in May introduce
Eruption island creation. lakes. carbon dioxide. new habitat.
Activity 1: Circulated Energy and Material
Answers vary.
Answer Key