SCIENCE 5

Q4 Week 1 Describing How Rocks Turn into Soil

Most Essential Learning Competency:
Describe how rocks turn into soil (S5FE-IVa-1).
Soil minerals form the basis of soil. They are produced from
rocks (parent material) through the processes of weathering.
There are two main types of weathering: chemical and
mechanical. Living organisms can also trigger weathering that
may result to mechanical or chemical change.
Mechanical weathering is the breaking down of rocks caused
by different factors such as temperature, water, wind, plants,
animals, and humans. It only brings about physical change. It is
also called physical weathering. It can be caused by any of the
following factors:
1. Temperature
Surface rock is heated by the sun. During the day, the rock
expands. At night, the rock cools and contracts. This unequal
expansion and contraction cause the rock to crack and break
apart (Balatbat & Reyes, 2013).
2. Water
Water can break rocks in different ways. The strong waves
that hit the rocks can make them break. It can seep into the
cracks of the rocks. When it gets colder, water turns into ice and
expands that can trigger rocks to break as well (Sarte, Garcia,
Lopez, Dela Cruz, & Arradaza, 2016).
3. Wind
As the wind blows, it carries sand or small rock particles that
scratch the rock’s surface. This can bring about mechanical
weathering which can also result to different rock formations
(Sarte et al., 2016).
4. Plants
Roots may grow between the cracks of rocks. As the roots
grow, the cracks become deep and wide causing the rock to break
into pieces.
5. Animals
Animals that live underground also contribute to weathering.
As burrowing animals such as rabbits, moles, and badgers dig
deeper, they cause rocks to break into pieces, too.
6. Humans
Humans also cause breaking of rocks. Some construction
workers use jackhammers to break boulders or rock as they build
houses and repair roads. They extract stones or rocks from a
quarry.
Chemical weathering is the breaking down of rock by
changing its chemical composition. It results to both physical and
chemical changes. It gives iron-rich rocks a rusty-colored surface
which weakens the rock. Also, when carbon dioxide in air
combines with water, they form carbonic acid. This acid attacks
and dissolves mineral called calcite. Rocks made up of calcite such
as limestone, sandstone, and marble can be broken down this way
(Balatbat & Reyes, 2013).

Activity 1
Directions: Match the descriptions in Column A with the terms in
Column B. Write the letter of the correct answer before
each number.
Column A Column B
___1. This acid attacks and dissolves A. burrowing animals
mineral called calcite.
___2. It is formed from weathering of B. carbonic acid
animals rocks.
___3. In this weathering process, only C. chemical weathering
the physical appearance of rocks changes.
___4. It is the process of breaking down of D. humans
rocks into smaller pieces.
___5. It is the process where change in the E. mechanical weathering
chemical composition of rocks takes place.
___6. They live underground and F. minerals
contributes to weathering by
burrowing and digging. G. plants
___7. When it gets colder, it turns into ice, H. soil
expands, and can trigger rocks to break.
___8. It contributes to the expansion I. temperature
and contraction of rocks.
___9. They contribute to weathering by J. water
using jackhammers to extract stones.
___10. These living organisms grow K. weathering
between the cracks of rocks causing
the rocks to break into pieces.

Activity 2
Directions: Fill in the box to complete the concept map about
weathering. Choose your answers from the words
inside the ribbon below.
Activity 3
Directions: Complete the paragraph by filling in the blanks with
the appropriate terms found inside the box below.
animals carbonic acid chemical weathering
mechanical weathering soil weathering

Rocks continuously break into small pieces over the years.

This process is called (1) __________. The two main types of
weathering are (2) __________ and (3) __________. Mechanical
weathering is caused by factors such as water, wind, temperature,
humans, plants, and (4) __________. Chemical weathering occurs
when carbon dioxide in air combines with water forming (5)
__________. This acid attacks and dissolves mineral called calcite.
Rocks made up of calcite can be broken down this way.

carbonic acid
humans
animals
plants
temperature
wind
carbonic acid 5. water
animals 4. 4-9 (in any order)
chemical weathering 3. 3. chemical weathering
mechanical weathering 2. 2. mechanical weathering
weathering 1. 1. soil
Activity 3 Activity 2

10. G 8. I 6. A 2. H 4. K
9. D 7. J 5. C 1. B 3. E
Activity 1
ANSWER KEY
 SCIENCE 5
Q4 Week 2 Investigating the Extent of Soil Erosion in the
Community and its Effects on Living Things and the Environment

Most Essential Learning Competency:

Investigate extent of soil erosion in the community and its
effects on living things and the environment (S5FEIVb-2).
Check It Up!
Directions: Arrange the jumbled letters to form the word being
described in each item. Write your answers on a space
provided after each number.
M A I L N S A 1. When they dig the ground, some rocks and soil
particles stick to their bodies and as they move from place
to place, they carry such particles, too. __________________
AWTRE 2. As it flows, it transports rock and soil particles
from one place to another. __________________
N U M H A S 3. Whenever we walk, the soil clings to our shoes, so
the soil gets transported from place to place. ______________
DINW 4. As it blows, it carries light particles of rocks and
soil transporting and depositing them in another place.
________________
OLPSE 5. It is an inclined surface of a land that affects the
rate of soil erosion. __________________

Soil erosion is the moving or carrying away of soil from one

place to another. It is a continuous process that gradually changes
the natural environment overtime (Sarte et al., 2016).

Agents of Soil Erosion

➢ Water
As water flows, it transports rock and soil particles from one
place to another. The speed of flowing water affects the rate of soil
erosion. The faster the water flows, the faster and farther the
erosion would be. Faster movement of water can cause many
sediments to be carried away by the water (Sarte et al., 2016).
 ➢ Wind
As the wind blows, it carries light particles of rocks and soil,
transporting and depositing them in another place. Strong winds
carry the particles of soil in a distant place. Wind erosion can take
place in any area where the soil is not compacted (Sarte et al.,
2016).
➢ Animals
Animals also contribute to the transportation of sediments.
When burrowing animals dig the ground, some rocks and soil
particles stick to their bodies. As they move from place to place,
they carry such particles, too (Sarte et al., 2016).
➢ Humans
Humans have a major contribution to the rate of soil erosion
in the environment. Whenever we walk, the soil clings to our
shoes, so the soil gets transported from place to place. There are
other human activities that can also cause soil erosion: gardening,
quarrying, mining, and house and infrastructure constructions
(Sarte et al., 2016).
➢ Slope of a Land
A slope is an inclined surface of a land. The slope of a land
affects the rate of soil erosion.

Effects of Soil Erosion

Every natural process here on Earth, like soil erosion, affects
both living and non-living things. Soil erosion does not only shape
Earth’s landforms, it also affects the ecosystem as it happens
abruptly.
Human activities such as deforestation, illegal logging,
overgrazing, and quarrying also aggravate the effects of soil
erosion in the environment.

Effects of Soil Erosion on Landforms

Soil erosion can destroy large masses of land. It can also
transform a mountain to a hill or a plateau. Excessive
deforestation, mining, and conversion of mountains to residential
or commercial lands could trigger erosion that can be destructive
to the environment (Sarte et al., 2016).
Effects of Soil Erosion on Living Things
Plants get most of its nutrients from the topsoil. The topsoil
contains the organic materials produced by dead plants and
animals. However, this topsoil is usually carried away by wind and
water.
Too much soil erosion makes the soil unable to hold or absorb
water. This makes the soil dry, coarse, and eventually unfit for
vegetation. In addition, sediments that are washed away by water
can clog irrigation systems and can further inhibit the plant’s
water supply.
The effect of soil erosion on plants would mean less food
production. This can affect animals and humans since plants are
their main source of food and nutrients.
Another negative effect of erosion is the prevalence of mine
tailings. Mine tailings are the mineral wastes or leftovers after the
mining process. Erosion brought about by water can wash mine
tailings to nearby bodies of water and pollute them (Sarte et al.,
2016).
Ways to Control Soil Erosion
1. Natural Vegetation
The simplest and natural way of controlling soil erosion is
through natural vegetation, which is allowing plants and trees
grow naturally without human interference.
Trees can also serve as windbreaks. A windbreak is a row of
trees planted in a straight path shielding and protecting plants
and crops from strong winds and gales. Windbreaks prevent
strong wind to directly blow the soil, thus lessening the soil
erosion that takes place (Sarte et al., 2016).
2. Contour Plowing
This method is similar to terracing, but on a smaller scale.
Instead of planting crops in straight vertical rows, crops are
planted following the contour of the landscape to slow down the
flow of water that prevents soil erosion (Larisma et al., 2017).
3. Strip Cropping
In this method, the plants are arranged in strips with rows of
the main crop alternated with rows of a cover crop. The cover crop
further helps to protect the soil from erosion (Mariano et al.,
2017).
3. Terracing
This type of farming method uses the topography of the land
to slow down the flow of water through a series of terraces. This
will control the water from flowing fast which can wash the soil
from the farm land (Larisma et al., 2017).
4. Crop Rotation
Farmers use crop rotation not just to prevent pests from
destroying the plants but also to maintain the good quality of the
soil. Crop rotation refers to planting crops in different spot of the
year (Sarte et al., 2016).
5. Riprapping
Another way of controlling soil erosion is by building ripraps
or chunks of stones or rocks arranged on the edge of slope. This
arrangement of stones does not just serve as a foundation but also
a ridge to control soil erosion (Sarte et al., 2016).
How Forest Helps in Controlling Soil Erosion
The forest canopy, the uppermost layer of the forest where most
tree branches and leaves are found, acts like an umbrella that
lessens the impact of rain on the forest floor. This also lessens the
rate of soil erosion.
Since a lot of trees and plants grow in the forest, more root
systems hold the soil together. Roots of trees spread out
underground and keep the soil more intact. The more intact the
soil is, the less prone it is to soil erosion (Sarte et al., 2016).

Activity 1
Directions: Draw a happy face ☺ if the situation shows a good
effect of soil erosion or sad face  if not.
______1. shaping of landforms
______2. deposition of mine tailings
______3. formation of soil
______4. loss of soil fertility
______5. clogging of irrigation canals
______6. decrease in food production
______7. pollution of water
______8. inability of soil to hold water
______9. change in appearance of mountains into hills
______10. large masses becoming wonders of nature
Activity 2
Directions: Match the items in column A with the items in
column B.
Column A Column B
_____1. It allows plants to grow A. trees
naturally without
human interference. B. terracing
_____2. The farmers should plow across
the slope to form ridges instead of C. riprapping
plowing up and down.
_____3. It is the planting of different D. windbreaks
crops in strips alternately.
_____4. It involves planting on terraces E. crop rotation
Or steps built on slopes of mountainside.
_____5. It is the planting of crops on a F. deforestation
on a different spot of each year.
_____6. It is the arrangement of G. reforestation
chunks of stones or rocks on the edges
of the slope. H. forest canopy
_____7. These living things prevent soil
erosion as they grow. I. strip cropping
_____8. It is the process of replanting an
area with trees. J. contour plowing
_____9. It is a row of trees planted in a
straight path. K. natural vegetation
_____10. It is the uppermost layer of the
forest where most tree branches
and leaves are found.

Activity 3
Directions: Fill in each blank the correct words. Choose from the
words inside the box.
animals contour plowing riprapping water human
erosion crop rotation terracing wind sediments
The movement of rock fragments and soil from one place to
another is called (1)_________________. Materials that are
transported due to erosion are called (2)_________________.
Just like weathering, there are different agents of soil erosion.
These include (3) _________________, (4) _________________, (5)
_________________, and (6) _________________.
Soil erosion cannot be prevented, since this is naturally
occurring in the environment. However, there are practices that
can help control soil erosion and its harmful effects. The ways to
control soil erosion are (7) _____________________, (8)
_____________________, (9) ___________________, and (10)
_____________________.

riprapping
crop rotation
terracing
7 – 10 contour plowing
animals
human
wind
3–6 water
2. sediments
1. erosion
Activity 3

10. H 5. E 10. ☺ 5. 
9. D 4. B 9. ☺ 4. 
8. G 3. I 8.  3. ☺
7. A 2. J 7.  2. 
6. C 1. K 6.  1. ☺
2 Activity Activity 1

5. SLOPE 3. HUMANS 4. WIND 1.ANIMALS 2. WATER

Check It Up!
ANSWER KEY

References:
Flores, Arabelle M. Science 5 Module 1, Region III, Cabanatuan City
Soliman, Princess N. Science 5 Module 2, Region III, Cabanatuan City