Science 8

Science – Grade 8
Quarter 4 – Module 17: Flow of Materials through the Biogeochemical Cycles
First Edition, 2020

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Published by the Department of Education - Schools Division of Pasig City

Development Team of the Self-Learning Module

Writer: Leah M. Ramos
Editor: Annalyn M. Macasinag
Reviewer: Liza A. Alvarez
Illustrator: Edison P. Clet
Layout Artist: Jean Rean M. Laurente
Management Team: Ma. Evalou Concepcion A. Agustin
OIC-Schools Division Superintendent
Carolina T. Rivera, CESE
OIC-Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
Manuel A. Laguerta, Ed. D.
Chief - Curriculum Implementation Division

Education Program Supervisors

Librada L. Agon EdD (EPP/TLE/TVL/TVE)

Liza A. Alvarez (Science/STEM/SSP)
Bernard R. Balitao (AP/HUMSS)
Joselito E. Calios (English/SPFL/GAS)
Norlyn D. Conde EdD (MAPEH/SPA/SPS/HOPE/A&D/Sports)
Wilma Q. Del Rosario (LRMS/ADM)
Ma. Teresita E. Herrera EdD (Filipino/GAS/Piling Larang)
Perlita M. Ignacio PhD (EsP)
Dulce O. Santos PhD (Kindergarten/MTB-MLE)
Teresita P. Tagulao EdD (Mathematics/ABM)

Printed in the Philippines by Department of Education – Schools Division of

Pasig City
 Science 8
Quarter 4
Self-Learning Module17
Flow of Materials through the
Biogeochemical Cycles
Introductory Message

For the Facilitator:

Welcome to the Science 8 Self-Learning Module on Flow of Materials through the

Biogeochemical Cycles
!
This Self-Learning Module was collaboratively designed, developed and
reviewed by educators from the Schools Division Office of Pasig City headed by its
Officer-in-Charge Schools Division Superintendent, Ma. Evalou Concepcion A.
Agustin, in partnership with the City Government of Pasig through its mayor,
Honorable Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto. The writers utilized the standards set by the K
to 12 Curriculum using the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELC) in
developing this instructional resource.

This learning material hopes to engage the learners in guided and

independent learning activities at their own pace and time. Further, this also aims
to help learners acquire the needed 21st century skills especially the 5 Cs, namely:
Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Character while
taking into consideration their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the
body of the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies
that will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this
module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them
to manage their own learning. Moreover, you are expected to encourage and assist
the learners as they do the tasks included in the module.
 For the Learner:

Welcome to the Science Self-Learning Module on Flow of Materials through the

Biogeochemical Cycles
!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful
opportunities for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You
will be enabled to process the contents of the learning material while being an
active learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

Expectations - This points to the set of knowledge and skills

that you will learn after completing the module.

Pretest - This measures your prior knowledge about the lesson

at hand.

Recap - This part of the module provides a review of concepts

and skills that you already know about a previous lesson.

Lesson - This section discusses the topic in the module.

Activities - This is a set of activities that you need to perform.

Wrap-Up - This section summarizes the concepts and

application of the lesson.

Valuing - This part integrates a desirable moral value in the

lesson.

Posttest - This measures how much you have learned from the
entire module.
 EXPECTATIONS

This module is about the cycle of materials in an ecosystem.

After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. Trace the flow of materials in the biogeochemical cycles
2. Suggest ways on how we can help in the continuous flow of these
materials
3. Care for nature
4. Appreciate the economic and ecological value of abiotic and biotic
components of ecosystem

PRETEST

Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on
a separate sheet of paper.
1. The energy that drives the water cycle come from
A. Geothermal energy C. Wind energy
B. Solar radiation D. Nuclear energy

2. Growing legumes like soy beans increases

A. Denitrification C. Nitrogen fixation
B. Ammonification D. Nitrification

3. Which of the following DOES NOT add carbon dioxide to the

atmosphere?
A. Cooking using LPG C. Urban gardening
B. Burning of wood D. Riding in a bus

4. How do animals get the nitrogen they need? They get it from …
A. air they inhale C. water they drink
B. food they eat D. exposure to sun

5 Which of the following is NOT a process of water cycle?

A. condensation C. Freezing
B. Evaporation D. Precipitation
 RECAP
Take a look on
this picture, seems very
familiar to you. Yes, RAVE Park in Maybunga, Pasig City. What are
the living organisms that you can find?
You can see the plants and human and maybe a
microorganism like bacteria lurking somewhere on the side. Can you
identify which one is a decomposer, consumer and producer?

https://fthmb.tqn.com/R9kuWk6cg
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rkSDh9Fj4VdIcE=/1500x1000/filter
s:fill(auto,1)/bacteria_cell_drawing-
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How important are they in keeping the supply and availability of

materials in the biosphere? We will find out in our lesson for today.

LESSON

Nutrient cycling is an essential process in an ecosystem. In

the nutrient cycle, or biogeochemical cycle the usage of the nutrients in
the environment, their movement and the processes their recycling are
described. It is any of the natural pathways by which essential elements of
living matter are circulated from the nonliving components of the biosphere
to the living components and back.
 In this module we will be discussing the cycles of important materials
such as water, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus .

https://static.vecteezy.com/system/resources/previews/000/099/515/original/water-
cycle-diagram-vector.jpg

WATER CYCLE is powered by heat energy coming from the sun. The
liquid water go the atmosphere as water vapor (EVAPORATION). When the
water vapor reaches the cold atmosphere , CONDENSATION follows where
the water vapor is changed back to liquid water droplets. The water droplets
with some vapor becomes the cloud.The next process takes place when the
water from the clouds is returned back to land and bodies of water in the
form of rain, drizzle, snow through the process of PRECIPITATION.
So Water cycle is a continuous movement of water from the
atmosphere to the earth through precipitation then eventually this water
returns to the atmosphere through evaporation. The amount of water that
cycles through living things is small as compared to ocean. Plants take
water through their roots by absorption and give off water vapor through
their leaves in transpiration. Animals and human drink water and give off
water vapor in exhalation.
CARBON-OXYGEN CYCLE
Carbon and oxygen are two elements that are essential to life. They
are naturally present in the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide and
gaseous oxygen. Atmospheric oxygen comes mainly from green plants. When
exposed to light, green plants use carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to
manufacture glucose and release oxygen into the air. This process is called
photosynthesis.
 https://sites.google.com/site/climatechange4kids/_/rsrc/1468760740636/the-carbon-
cycle/How-the-carbon-cycle-works.jpg

Animals take in oxygen from the atmosphere and give off carbon
dioxide during respiration. When biomass is subjected to decomposition or
combustion, the carbon fixed in living matter is also released into the
atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide.

https://www.onlinebiologynotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/nitrogen-cycle.jpg

Nitrogen enters the living world by way of bacteria and other single-
celled prokaryotes, which convert atmospheric nitrogen N2 into biologically
usable forms in a process called nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen-fixing
microorganisms capture atmospheric nitrogen by converting it to ammonia
which can be taken up by plants and used to make organic molecules like
protein. The nitrogen-containing molecules are passed to animals when the
plants are eaten. They may be incorporated into the animal's body or broken
down and excreted as waste, such as the urea found in urine.

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/ecology/biogeochemical-cycles/a/the-nitrogen-cycle

Prokaryotes play several roles in the nitrogen cycle. Nitrogen-fixing

bacteria in the soil and within the root nodules of some plants convert
nitrogen gas in the atmosphere to ammonia. Nitrifying bacteria convert
ammonia to nitrites or nitrates. Ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates are all fixed
nitrogen and can be absorbed by plants. Denitrifying bacteria converts
nitrates back to nitrogen gas.

Although the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen is an essential part of

the nitrogen cycle, ammonification and nitrification are the predominant
methods by which organic nitrogen is prevented from returning to the
atmosphere and is kept cycling through the biosphere.

Phosphorus Cycle
Phosphorus is an important element for all living organisms. It forms a significant
part of the structural framework of DNA and RNA. They are also an important
component of ATP. Humans contain 80% of phosphorus in teeth and bones.

Steps of Phosphorus Cycle

1.Weathering -
Phosphorus is abundant in rocks.The phosphate salts are
broken down from the rocks and washed away into the ground where they mix in
the soil.

2. Absorption by Plants -
The phosphate salts dissolved in water are absorbed
by the plants. However, the amount of phosphorus present in the soil is less that is
why the farmers apply phosphate fertilizers on agricultural land.
 https://cdn.britannica.com/77/126077-050-117592F5/Phosphorus-environments-
growth-plants-elements.jpg

3.Absorption by Animals -The animals absorb phosphorus from the plants

or by consuming plant-eating animals.

4. Return of Phosphorus Back to the Ecosystem

When the plants and animals die they are decomposed by microorganisms
During this process, the organic form of phosphorus is converted into the
inorganic form, which is recycled to soil and water. Soil and water will end
up in sediments and rocks, which will again release phosphorus by
weathering. Thus, the phosphorus cycle starts over.

ACTIVITIES

Explore and strengthen your understanding of the topic by answering these

activities

Activity Number 1- How ‘s the Filling?

Direction: Identify the following processes related to the biogeochemical cycle

1.______________A process wherein nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil and

within the root nodules of some plants convert nitrogen gas in the
atmosphere to ammonia.
2. ______________ bacteria convert ammonia to nitrites or nitrates.
3.________________a process where green plants use carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere to manufacture glucose and release oxygen into the air

4.__________________ Animals take in oxygen from the atmosphere and give off
carbon dioxide during this process.

5. __________________ bacteria converts nitrates back to nitrogen gas.

Learning from the Activity: Three (3) groups of organisms play a vital role
in biogeochemical cycle. Give a short explanation on how do they help in
cycling of nutrients in the biosphere

a. Plants (producer) _______________________________________

b. Animals (consumer) ____________________________________
c. Bacteria (decomposer) _________________________________

Activity number 2. How can I Reduce my Carbon

Footprint?

Introduction:
Carbon dioxide is released primarily on the process of respiration.
Together with industrialization and urbanization is the increase in the level
of carbon dioxide from vehicles, factories, electricity among others plus the
increasing population of human. We already know the interdependence of
plants and animals for oxygen and carbon dioxide. Even the agricultural
lands are converted to residential or commercial area. The other side of
these economic development is the decrease in the number of plants which
can harness the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Materials: pencil and bond paper
Directions:
1. Using a pencil, trace one of your feet on a bond paper
2. Inside the drawing of your foot, List down the items you do that are not
environment friendly like showering too long , leaving the lights on and
others.
3. List some eco-friendly ways you can reduce carbon and even increase the
number of plants. Write them around the drawing of your foot.

Learning from the Activity

God had provided us with free oxygen from the plants
as they undergo the food making process. As a partaker of the
cycle…be a caregiver of plants and other organisms. An advocate for the continuing
supply of oxygen.

WRAP-UP

Importance of Nutrient Cycles

Can you imagine if the cycles of nutrients do not happen? The water
that you used would have remained in the area where it landed. The
environment will soon be dry and warm ,same thing happen with soil.
_________cycle provides constant supply of water and cool the environment.
Remember, soil is a major source for nutrients needed by plants for
growth. The three main nutrients are _____________ (N), ____________ (P) and
potassium (K). Plants also need _____________(gas) to manufacture food and
release ___________ (gas). Animals and human use __________ for breathing
and for respiration and give off ___________ during exhalation.
Human and animals eat plants, when they die, the decomposers like
bacteria, fungi act on them and return the nutrients on the soil and be
used again by plants and this cycle continue.

Read this article and answer the guide questions

https://water.org/our-impact/where-we-work/philippines/
Guide Questions:
1. How can you help in keeping the water source safe?
(at least 5 answers)
2. Enumerate at least ten ways you can conserve water.

POSTTEST

1. In photosynthesis, plants use ____ to make _____ and release _____.

A. Oxygen, glucose and carbon dioxide
B. Carbon dioxide, glucose and oxygen
C. Oxygen, protein and carbon dioxide
D. Nitrogen, protein and oxygen
2. Evaporation of water from plants’ leaves is called
A. respiration
B. transpiration
C. oxidation
D. condensation

3. Which of the following materials the cycle process occurs in the

lithosphere, hydrosphere but not in atmosphere
A. carbon C. phosphorous
B. nitrogen D. water

4. In the nitrogen cycle, the important work is done by?

A. alga. C. fungi
B. bacteria D. lightning

5. Phosphorus, a vital material for DNA are abundant in rocks. This

material is made available to plants after the rocks were broken down
through the process of
A. Evaporation
B. Fixation
C. Sedimentation
D. Weathering
 KEY TO CORRECTION
Activity 2 - answers may vary
5. C 5. D
5. Denitrifying
4. B 4. B
4. Respiration
3. C 3. C
3. Photosynthesis
2. C 2. B
2. Nitrifying
1. B 1. B
1. Nitrogen fixation
Pretest Posttest
Activity 1

References
Aquino,Valdoz, Mariano and Bescara,2013. Science Links Rex Book Store pages
192-195

Dorado and Yang,2001 The Living World pages 284-290 SIBS Publishing House
Inc. Copyright 2001

Velasquez and Asis, 1993 Modern Biology , Philippine version National Bookstore
Inc pages 671-672
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-
Kb2XrrQq_Z8/WQ1R_WUF0lI/AAAAAAAAcoU/Ejhl7T1v9AokB2MXsHIogNmQmhJfPA02QCEw/s1600/18237890_153489
1396556057_7909

https://fthmb.tqn.com/R9kuWk6cguYT-rkSDh9Fj4VdIcE=/1500x1000/filters:fill(auto,1)/bacteria_cell_drawing-
5786db0a5f9b5831b54f0

https://static.vecteezy.com/system/resources/previews/000/099/515/original/water-
cycle-diagram-vector.jpg
https://sites.google.com/site/climatechange4kids/_/rsrc/1468760740636/the-carbon-
cycle/How-the-carbon-cycle-works.jpg

https://www.onlinebiologynotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/nitrogen-cycle.jpg

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/ecology/biogeochemical-cycles/a/the-
nitrogen-cycle

https://cdn.britannica.com/77/126077-050-117592F5/Phosphorus-environments-
growth-plants-elements.jpg

https://byjus.com/biology/phosphorus-cycle/

https://water.org/our-impact/where-we-work/philippines/