ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Modified Strategic Intervention Materials

Quarter 1 Week 4-5 (Subtask 3)

Environmental Science
Modified Strategic Intervention Materials

Grade 7 – Quarter 1: Week 6-7: THE NITROGEN CYCLE

Development Team
Author: Consuelo O. Cuevas
Cover Art Illustrator: Erich D. Garcia
Reviewer: Paz I. Canlas
Editor: Paz I. Canlas
Layout: Gilbert M. Datu

Management Team
Zenia G. Mostoles EdD, CESOV, Schools Division Superintendent
Celia R. Lacanlale PhD, Chief CID
Paz I. Canlas, Education Program Supervisor in Science

Department of Education – Division of Pampanga

Office Address: High School Boulevard, Brgy. Lourdes,

San Fernando City, Pampanga

Landline Number: (045) 435-27-28

Email Address: pampanga@deped.gov.ph

 TITLE CARD: The Nitrogen Cycle

GUIDE CARD

A. Learning Competency
Analyze diagrams in explaining how materials cycle in the
environment.

Objectives of the Lesson

1. Explain the nitrogen cycle.
2. Discuss the importance of nitrogen cycle in the environment.
B. Introduction
Nitrogen cycle is a gaseous cycle that involves microorganisms, like
bacteria, to move nitrogen through the biosphere.
Nitrogen in the atmosphere is unreactive but it can be useful to
organisms when it is converted to nitrates. In nitrate form, nitrogen can
be absorbed by the plants to manufacture proteins. Nitrogen can be
converted to this useful form through natural or biological process.
Artificially, lightning can break the strongly bonded nitrogen atoms in
N2. A biological process converting nitrogen to nitrates takes place
through the action of nitrogen – fixing bacteria that live in the roots of
legumes (i.e., peanuts, beans). The process of converting nitrogen to
nitrates by the action of lightning or nitrogen – fixing bacteria is called
nitrogen fixation.
When organisms die, the nitrogen compounds in their bodies are
acted upon by the decomposers. This decomposition procedures
ammonia in the process called ammonification or decay. The
ammonia produced is converted by other forms of microorganisms
called nitrifying bacteria into nitrites and nitrates. The process is called
nitrification. In the soil, these nitrites and nitrates are used by the
denitrifying bacteria to produce the energy they need. In this process
of denitrification, nitrogen gas is produced and released into
the atmosphere.
To summarize, nitrogen is cycled through the biosphere via four
process: nitrogen fixation, ammonification, nitrification, and
denitrification. Referring to the diagram, trace the movement of
nitrogen through the biosphere. Note how bacteria play an important
role in the cycle.
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 Figure 1.3. The Nitrogen Cycle
ACTIVITY CARD
Activity 1
The NItrogen Cycle
Objective:
1. Trace the nitrogen cycle.
2. Describe how the flow of matter in a cycle helps
maintain the balance of nature.

Materials:
illustration of nitrogen cycle

Procedure:
Analyze Nitrogen Cycle and answer the following guide
questions.

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Observation:
Guide Questions: Write your answers on your Activity Notebook.

1. Why do plants need nitrogen compound?

__________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________.

2. How can nitrogen in the air and in the soil be converted to

nitrate?

_____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________.

3. How do they return to the atmosphere?

_____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________.

4. Discuss the importance of nitrogen cycle in maintaining the

balance of nature?

_____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________.

5. What is nitrogen fixation?

_____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________.

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 ASSESSMENT CARD

A. Multiple Choice

Encircle the letter of the best answer. Write your answers on your
Evaluation Notebook.

1. Why is nitrogen essential for all living things?

A. It is easily converted to nitrate.
B. It is an abundant gas in the atmosphere.
C. It is useful to make protein.
D. It can be acted upon by bacteria.

2. Nitrogen which is present in the air cannot be used by green plants

unless it is changed to a soluble form. What is this soluble form?
A. nitrites
B. nitrates
C. ammonia
D. nitrides

3. Which bacteria in nodules of legumes carry on nitrogen fixation?

A. nitrifying bacteria
B. nitrogen – fixing bacteria
C. denitrifying bacteria
D. decomposers

4. Free nitrogen in the atmosphere is converted into nitrates during

_________.
A. nitrogen fixation
B. respiration
C. photosynthesis
D. denitrification

5. Which organism in soil is responsible in returning nitrogen to the

atmosphere?
A. nitrifying bacteria
B. denitrifying bacteria
C. decomposer
D. nitrogen – fixing bacteria

B. Questions

Answer the questions thoroughly. Write your answer on your

Evaluation Notebook.

1. What is the importance of nitrogen?

2. How is nitrogen converted into nitrates?

3. What is nitrogen fixation?

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4. Differentiate between nitrification and denitrification.
C. Label the cyclic pathway of nitrogen cycle below. Draw and answer
this on your Evaluation Notebook.

converted into

air

wastes
dead bodies

NITROGEN CYCLE

ENRICHMENT CARD
A. Trace and label the missing process of the figure of the nitrogen cycle
below.

B. Make your own chart of the nitrogen cycle using cartolina and colored
paper. Explain your own chart.
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 REFERENCE CARD

Environmental Science for Philippine Schools, Phoenix Publishing House.

Melencio C. Deauna & Salvacion Lindio Dorado

Integrated Science, Phoneix Publishing House. Estrella E. Mendoza, Maria

B. Reyes, Maria Donna B. Ines

Hands and Minds On Activities for General Science I, Innovative

Educational Materials, Inc. Aileen E. Vocal, Marissa S.J. Gatapia,
Remedios C. Gervacio

Science Links 6, Rex Book Store, Inc. Evelyn C. Padpad, Estrellita A.

Madriaga, et. al.

Science Links 7, Rex Book Store, Inc. Jonna M. Abistado, Meliza P. Valdoz,
et. al.

https://www.pngwave.com/png-clip-art-odbqk

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A. ACTIVITY CARD C. ENRICHMENT CARD
Learner’s answer may vary.
A.
B. ASSESSMENT CARD
PART A: MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. C
2. B
3. B
4. A
5. B
PART B: QUESTIONS
1. Nitrogen is an important component of
proteins and nucleic acids.
2. Nitrogen in the atmosphere is converted
to nitrates in two ways: 1.) by the action of
lightning, and 2.) by the action of specialized
organisms.
3. Nitrogen fixation is a process wherein
nitrogen fixing bacteria directly convert
nitrogen into nitrates.
4. Nitrification - process of converting
ammonia to nitrates
Denitrification – process where in nitrates
B. Learner’s answer may vary.
are converted to nitrogen by the denitrifying
bacteria.
PART C: Learner’s answer may vary.
ANSWER CARD
For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Division of Pampanga

Office Address: High School Boulevard, Brgy. Lourdes,

San Fernando City, Pampanga

Landline: (045) 435-27-28

Email Address: pampanga@deped.gov.ph