6 Department of Education-Region III

TARLAC CITY SCHOOLS DIVISION

Juan Luna St., Sto. Cristo, Tarlac City 2300
Email address: tarlac.city@deped.gov.ph/ Tel. No. (045) 470 - 8180

Science
Quarter 2: Week 7
Learning Activity Sheets
 Science 6

Name of Learner: _________________________________________ Date: ____________

Section: ________________________________________________ Q2W7

Protection and Conservation of Tropical Rainforests,

Coral Reefs and Mangrove Swamps

Background Information for Learners

Tropical rainforests, coral reefs and mangrove swamps serve as habitats and breeding
places for some plants and animals. They also provide resources and needs for people. As
the human population increases, the demand for the use of these resources increases, thus
upsetting the ecological balance. Our role is to protect and conserve the resources and the
ecosystem and practice sustainability. (Constante-Padpad 2017).
Rainforest, Coral Reef, and Mangrove swamp are important parts of the ecosystem.
Rainforest provides habitats for both plants and animals, where they can reproduce
and get their food. Rainforest helps in the prevention of soil erosion and floods. The roots of
trees absorb large amount of rainfall which prevents water runoff and soil erosion. Trees in
rainforests are the main suppliers of oxygen. During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon
dioxide and release oxygen. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is lessened
when absorbed by plants, thus controlling the rise of temperature. (Constante-Padpad 2017)
Tall trees found in the rainforests such as acacia, mahogany, narra, yakal and others are
sources of timber that are used to build houses, furniture, and some decorations. Some of
the herbal medicines that people use to cure illnesses come from plants that are found in the
rainforest. (Pablo 2016)

Coral reefs are the natural habitats for many sea animals like sponges, mollusks,
crustaceans, and echinoderms (Constante-Padpad 2017) thus, providing rich sources of
marine food. They also serve as barriers to tidal waves and break the big waves into small
ones. (Pablo 2016)

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 Mangroves serve as breeding or nesting grounds for different species. The roots of
mangroves provide shelter for many oceanic and freshwater animals. They use the
mangroves as breeding and nursing grounds before heading to the open ocean. (Constante-
Padpad 2017) Like the trees in the rainforests, mangroves are also good sources of timber
for construction, firewood, and charcoal. Mangroves act as natural barriers and flood defense.
They protect the coastlines against storm surge or the sudden rise in water level, usually
caused by storm. Mangroves trap and filter sediments and poisonous materials that flow
farther to deep waters. They provide food and areas for nesting, nursing, and breeding for
many vertebrates. (Pablo 2016)

Unfortunately, some people do activities that contribute to the destruction of our

ecosystem. Too many trees are cut down, thus resulting to deforestation. In our tropical
rainforests, people cut down trees for timber to produce firewoods, papers, and pieces of
furniture. People also clear forests for wider plantations, cattle raising, and building
subdivision houses and roads. They sometimes do the slash-and-burn technique, a method
of deforestation which further damages the forests and the organisms that live there. (Pablo,
Protecting and Conservation of Tropical Rainforest 2016) Floods, soil erosions and droughts
may result when forests are cleared because there will be no roots to hold water and soil.

Illegal methods of fishing such as cyanide fishing, muro-ami fishing and dynamite
fishing can destroy the coral reefs. Cyanide fishing is a method in which fishermen dive into
the sea and spray sodium cyanide, a poisonous compound, which results in the killing of
many fishes including smaller ones. Muro-ami fishing is a method that uses an encircling net
and a pounding device, which is usually made of big stones fitted on a rope. This device is
used to pound and destroy the coral reefs to drive away the fish and other animals, which
they caught using the net. Dynamite fishing, which is another method of illegal fishing, uses
explosive materials called dynamite. When dynamites are thrown into the water, the corals
are destroyed and many fishes are killed, including the small or recently hatched ones that
are not yet mature enough for consumption. (Pablo, Protecting and Conservation of Tropical
Rainforest 2016).

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 Mangroves are cleared for property development, for commercial fish farming and
often used as dumping grounds for wastes.
As stewards of God’s creation, it is our duty to protect these wonders. Here are some
practices on how we can protect and conserve tropical rainforests, coral reefs, and mangrove
swamps.
• Prevent illegal animal hunting and plant collection.
• Help promote reforestation and practice planting more trees.
• Prevent illegal fishing.
• Dispose trashes properly. Do not leave wastes anywhere especially near the
seashores.
• Volunteer for cleanup projects for coral reefs, mangrove swamps and
rainforests.
• Follow laws protecting mangroves, corals, and forests strictly.
Learning Competency with code
Explain the need to protect and conserve tropical rainforests, coral reefs, and
mangrove swamps. (S6MT-IIi-j-6)
Science Vocabulary Words
Here are some words that you will encounter in this Learning Activity Sheet and their
meanings for you to be able to understand the words well.

1. protection – is the act of protecting or state of being protected. (Cambridge

Dictionary n.d.)
2. conservation – is the protection of plants and animals, natural areas, and
interesting and important structures and buildings, especially from the damaging
effects of human activity. (Cambridge Dictionary n.d.)
3. habitat – is the natural environment of an organism. It is a place which is natural
for the life and growth of an organism. (Dictionary.com n.d.)
4. deforestation – is the process of clearing forests or cutting down of trees in a
large area, or the destruction of forests by humans. (Cambridge Dictionary n.d.)
5. slash-and-burn technique – is a short-term method of cultivation in which land
is cleared by cutting and burning trees and other vegetation for temporary
agricultural use. (Dictionary.com n.d.)
6. timber – is a long piece of wood used for building, especially houses and ships.
(Cambridge Dictionary n.d.)
7. water runoff – is water that flows away from high areas to low areas (Cambridge
Dictionary n.d.)
8. storm surge – is the rising of the sea because of atmospheric pressure changes
and wind associated with a storm. (Oxford Languages n.d.)

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Activity 1 – Who am I?
Directions: Guess the name of the animal or plant in the drawing and fill in the missing letters
to complete the name, then answer the question that follows.

1.) M__NG__O__ES 2.) T__RS__ER 3.) P__ WI__A__

4.) T__M__R__W 5.) S __ A __ F __ __ H 6.) N__R__A

What will happen if the habitats of these plants and animals are destroyed?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Activity 2 – I am Important!
Directions: Complete the diagram. Write the importance of tropical rainforests, coral reefs,
and mangrove swamps inside the box.

ECOSYSTEM

Tropical Rainforests Coral Reefs Mangrove Swamps

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Activity 3– Protect Me!
Directions: Put a check mark () on the line if the sentence tells a way of conserving or
protecting tropical rainforests, coral reefs, or mangrove swamps. Put a cross mark (x) if it
does not.
________1. Cut mangrove branches to make Christmas trees.
________2. Walk, ride a bike, or commute through public transport to lessen the number or
running vehicles on the road.
________3. Cut down trees for timber.
________4. Leave your trashes on the shore after eating your favorite snacks.
________5. Support illegal fishing.
________6. Help our ecosystem through reforestation.
________7. Create a man-made fish sanctuary.
________8. Use dynamite in fishing.
________9. Support programs of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
________10. Hunt endangered animals.
Performance Task No. 4 – Poster Making
Directions: Make a poster showing people protecting and conserving any of the following
ecosystems: tropical rainforest, coral reef, or mangrove swamp. Be guided by the rubrics
provided below.

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 Rubrics for Poster Making
Criteria 10 7 4 1
Visuals are related Visuals are There are few Visuals do not
to the topic and related to the topic related visuals relate to the
Content
very easy to and are easy to to the topic. topic.
understand. understand.
Visuals are neatly Visuals are neat Followed layout Work is
designed, layout and easy to sample, disorganized.
Design
compliments understand. somewhat
content. disorganized.
Uses unique Contains some Contains some No evidence
design elements, unique or good, although of creativity.
Visual
visuals that make imaginative not entirely
Appeal/Creativity
the poster stand elements. original
out. elements.

Reflections:

A. I’ve learned that ______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
B. I’ve enjoyed _________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

References:

n.d. Cambridge Dictionary. Accessed October 14, 2020.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/runoff.
n.d. Cambridge Dictionary. Accessed October 13, 2020.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/protection.
n.d. Cambridge Dictionary. Accessed October 13, 2020.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/deforestation.
n.d. Cambridge Dictionary. Accessed October 14, 2020.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/timber.
n.d. Cambrige Dictionary. Accessed October 2020, 2020.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/conservation.
Constante-Padpad, Evelyn. 2017. "Protection and Conservation of Ecosystem." In The New
Science Links 6, by Evelyn Constante-Padpad, 279. Manila: Rex Bookstore, Inc.
n.d. Dictionary.com. Accessed October 13, 2020.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/habitat?s=t.
n.d. Dictionary.com. Accessed October 13, 2020. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/slash-
and-burn.
n.d. Oxford Languages. Accessed October 14, 2020. https://languages.oup.com/google-
dictionary-en/.
2016. "Importance of Rainforests, Coral Reefs and Mangrove Swamps." In Real-Life Science
6, by Jovita H. San Pablo, 281,299,314. Quezon City: Abiva Publishing House, Inc.
2016. "Protecting and Conservation of Tropical Rainforest." In Real-Life Science, by Jovita
H. San Pablo, 282-284. Quezon City: Abiva Publishing House, Inc.

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Answer Key:
Activity 2 – I am Important! (Answer may vary)
Activity 1 – Who am I?
ECOSYSTEM
1. MANGROVES
2. TARSIER
3. PAWIKAN
4. TAMARAW Tropical Mangrove
Coral Reefs
5. STAR FISH Rainforests Swamps
6. NARRA
Plants and animals • provide habitat • provide rich • serve as
will die because their for animals and sources of breeding or
plants marine food nesting grounds
habitat is destroyed.
• help in the • serve as of different
prevention of soil barriers to species
Activity 3 – Protect Me! erosion and floods tidal waves • good sources of
• main suppliers of and break the timber and
1. X oxygen big waves into construction
2.  • provide materials small ones materials
3. X for construction • Crushed • act as natural
4. X • Some of the herbal corals are barriers and
5. X medicines that sometimes flood defense
some people use used in • trap and filter
6.  to cure illnesses building roads sediments and
7.  come from plants and highways. poisonous
8. X that are found in • They are also materials that
9.  the rainforests used for flow farther to
10. X decorations at deep waters
home.

Performance Task No. 4 – Poster Making

(To be checked by your teacher using the given rubrics)

ANTONINA C. NICDAO
Master Teacher I - Writer
Atioc – Dela Paz ES

MICHAEL B. MANDI
Teacher III - Illustrator
Yabutan ES

CARLO G. CORTEZ
Teacher I – Layout Artist
Sapang Tagalog ES