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GRADE 11
Center for Development, Training and Competency Assessment Inc.
0030 Zapote St. PHHC Area-D Camarin Caloocan City

Self-Learning Module

The Planet Earth

Week no: 1

Week No: 1

Week No: 1

NAME: _____________________________________________________________

STRAND: _____________________________________________________________

SECTION: _____________________________________________________________

DATE SUBMITTED: __________________ RECEIVED BY: __________________

 HOW TO USE THE MODULE?

As you start studying the module, I want you to set aside other task/s that may disturb you while enjoying the
lessons. Read the instructions below to successfully enjoy the objectives of this kit. Have fun!

1. Follow carefully all the contents and instructions indicated in every page of the module.
2. Don’t forget to answer Pretest before moving on to the other activities included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
5. Analyze conceptually the Assessment and apply what you have learned.
6. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
7. Enjoy studying!
8. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.

If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or
facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are not alone.
We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and gain deep understanding of the
relevant competencies. You can do it!

Most Essential Learning Competency

 Recognize the uniqueness describe the characteristics and properties of the Earth that are necessary to
support life of the Earth, being the only planet in the solar system with properties necessary to support life.
(S11/12ES-Ia-1)

Expectations

At the end of this module, the student will be able to:

a. recognize the difference in the physical properties between the Earth and its neighboring planets; and
b. identify the factors that allow a planet to support life identify the unique properties of the Earth that enables it
to support life.

LE SSON 1
and Structure of the Earth- Planet Earth
The universe is made up of billions of galaxies and each galaxy contains millions or even billions of stars. Our solar
system is part of the millions of solar systems that make up our galaxy- the Milky Way. Our solar system is composed of
our sun, the planets and other smaller objects that move around its orbit such as moons, asteroids, comets and
meteoroids. The Earth- the planet where we live, is one of the eight planets that move around the sun in an elliptical orbit.
In this module you are going to explore one of the wonders of the solar system- the earth, being the only known
planet that can support life. The different factors that help Earth support life will be discussed as well as the difference in
the physical and chemical properties between the Earth and its neighboring planets. So what are you waiting for? Sit
back, relax, have fun and enjoy!
Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are the four terrestrial planets on the solar system. They are called inner
terrestrial planets or rocky planets. Their composition and densities are not too different from each other.
Venus is considered to be the Earth’s twin planet. It has a very similar size and mass with the planet Earth. Mars
on the other hand is about half the size of the Earth.

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 Orbital period and velocity are related to the planet’s distance from the sun. Among the terrestrial planets, Venus
is the nearest and Mars is the farthest from the Sun.
Rotational speed of Earth and Mars are very similar. Both planets have almost the same length of day in terms of
hours. The rotational speed of planet Venus is extremely slow.

The Earth has abundant of liquid water causing its blue color. Water in the liquid form, turns out to be one of the
most important prerequisites for life to proliferate. This makes Earth a habitable planet. However, there is recent evidence
that the liquid water in the form of brine (salty water) flows intermittently on the surface of planet Mars. The water in
the Earth falls exactly at the right amount, it is not too many to be able to fill the world with water, and not too little to
make the lands dry like the dessert. It can also be linked to the occurrence of plate tectonics. Venus which has no water,
shows no plate tectonics, no deep sea floor nor steep mountains. This shows how significant water is in the formation of
geologic structure of the Earth.

The size of the planet also plays an important role to support life. The size of the Earth fits perfectly to be able to
support life. If its size is much smaller, it wouldn’t be able to hold the atmosphere that protects the planet from harmful
solar radiation and solar winds. Much larger size on the other hand will make it a gas giant, not suitable for life to form.
The greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere influences the planet’s surface temperature. The unique characteristics
of Earth among any other planets in the solar system allow it to support life. Let’s find out on the next section of this
module the different factors that make the planet habitable than the rest of the planets.

Earth is the third planet from the sun and the fifth largest planet with a radius of 3,959 miles. The name “earth”
is a Germanic word which means “the ground.” Earth revolves around the sun once every 365.25 days and rotates in its
axis every 23.9 hours. Among all these facts, one stands out. It is the only planet that can support life which makes Earth
unique among all the planets in the solar system.

Earth is the only planet in the solar system known to harbor life. Our planet has a molten nickel-iron core which
gave rise to an extensive magnetic field, which, along with the atmosphere, shields us from harmful radiation coming from
the Sun. In this module, you will understand why this planet is called the “living planet.”

Our Earth is the only place in the universe that can support life. It is a modest sized planet that orbits an
average-sized star, the sun. Life on Earth is abundant. Some type of life is found in every niche on the Earth. Even in the
extremely cold Antarctica, hardy microscopic beings exist in ponds, tiny wingless insects live in patches of moss and
lichen, and even two types of plants flower yearly. From the top of the atmosphere to the bottom of the oceans, from
the coldest part of the poles to the warmest part of the equator, life persists here. But what makes Earth different from
other planets? What properties does it possess to make life possible on this planet?

.
DEFINITION OF TERMS

 Earth - is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life.
 Planet - is a large celestial body that orbits a star and does not shine on its own.
 Solar System - is a group of planets, moons, asteroids, and comets that orbit around a sun.
 Goldilocks Zone – also known as habitable zone, is the range of distance with the right temperatures for water to
remain liquid.
 Ozone Layer - is a region of the stratosphere, about 10-25 miles (15-40 km) above the Earth's surface, which
contains about 90% of the Earth's atmospheric ozone.
 Core - is the innermost layer of the Earth.

REASONS THAT MAKES LIFE ON EARTH POSSIBLE

1. Our location is far from many hazards.

The solar system sits far from the galactic core (almost 30,000 light-years), between two major spiral arms. More
so, the solar system's circular orbit helps it avoid that dangerous part of the galaxy. The galactic core likely contains a
massive black hole and releases consistent bursts of radiation. Also, there are relatively few stars near the sun, reducing
risks to Earth from gravitational tugs, gamma-ray bursts, or collapsing stars called supernovae.

The presence of our big brother planet, Jupiter, farther out in the solar system blocking Earth from much of the
incoming debris, has also helped Earth become a safe haven for life. Jupiter acts like a giant broom, sweeping the solar
system of debris rocks as small as cars and as huge as moons that could snuff out life in one fatal blow.

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2. Our sun is a stable and long-lasting star.

Our sun is a yellow dwarf, a relatively rare type of star that is both small and stable. It also has a long life and
probably would not start to fizzle out for another five billion years or so. Stars more massive than the sun burn hotter
and usually do not live long enough for planets to develop life. Less massive, younger stars are often unstable and are
prone to blasting their planets with bursts of radiation.

The sun radiates light and heat, or solar energy, which makes it possible for life to exist on Earth. The sun
provides the earth with energy estimated at over 239 trillion horsepower, about 35,000 horsepower for each current
resident. Plants need sunlight to grow. Animals, including humans, need plants for food and the oxygen they produce.
Without heat from the sun, Earth would freeze. There would be no winds, ocean currents, or clouds to transport water.

3. We are at just the right distance from the sun.

Earth is at an average distance of 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers away from the sun. It orbits in the
so-called Goldilocks zone, where the planet receives enough energy to allow water to exist as a liquid on its surface. Too
far, and the vital compound stays locked up as ice. Too close, and the water would rapidly evaporate into the
atmosphere. The Earth is the only planet with huge bodies of water—70% of its surface area consists of oceans, lakes,
and seas surrounding huge bodies of land. Water is unique because it absorbs large amounts of heat without much
alteration in its temperature. Its absorption speed is extremely rapid—about ten times as fast as steel. During the day,
the seas rapidly soak up a great deal of heat, thus the Earth stays fairly cool. At night, the oceans release the vast
amounts of heat that they soaked up during the day, which combined with atmospheric effects, keeps the surface from
getting too cold at night. If it were not for the tremendous amount of water on Earth, there would be far greater day
and night temperature variations. Many parts of the surface would be hot enough to boil water in the day and the same
part would be cold enough to freeze water at night. Water is an excellent temperature stabilizer. The large oceans on
Earth are a vital part of our survival!

4. We have the right stuff to host a dynamic core.

The interstellar cloud of gas and dust that gave rise to Earth contained enough radioactive elements (potassium,
uranium and thorium) to power a churning core for billions of years. This creates a magnetic field which is crucial to life
on our planet because it protects the planet from dangers like solar flares and solar wind. The Earth's magnetic field
serves to deflect most of the solar wind, whose charged particles would otherwise strip away the ozone layer that
protects the Earth and the life on it from harmful ultraviolet radiation.

5. We have a big moon to stabilize our axial wobble.

The Earth has a slight tilt and teeters like a top as it spins, which can cause drastic shifts in climate over the
course of thousands of years. But because of the moon's stabilizing effect on our orbit, our climate is a lot steadier. Plus,
the moon causes the tides, so if the Moon were much nearer to the Earth, say 20 times closer, it would exert a
gravitational force 400 times greater than what we are used to. It would result to huge tides which would overflow onto
the lowlands, causing great flooding.

6. We have an ozone layer to block harmful ray.

Ancient plantlike organisms in the oceans added oxygen to the atmosphere and created a high-altitude layer of
ozone that shielded early land species from lethal radiation. Ozone (O3) is a gas in the atmosphere that protects
everything living on the Earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Without the layer of ozone in the
atmosphere, it would be very difficult for anything to survive on the surface. Plants cannot live and grow in heavy
ultraviolet radiation, nor can the plankton that serve as food for most of the ocean life. The ozone layer acts as a shield
to absorb the UV rays, and keep them from doing damage at the Earth's surface.

The mixture of gases found in the atmosphere, without man's pollution, is perfect for life. Nitrogen accounts for
78% of the atmosphere, oxygen 21% and argon 0.9%. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides, and
methane are trace gases that account for about a tenth of one percent of the atmosphere. These gases trap the sun’s
heat to keep the planet warm. If it were much different, life would cease to exist on Earth. If our atmosphere were
thinner, many of the millions of meteors which now are burned up would reach the Earth's surface, causing death,
destruction and fires everywhere.

REASONS WHY PLANET EARTH IS UNIQUE AND HABITABLE PLANET

1. It has liquid water - Earth is the only planet in the solar system that has a large amount of liquid water. About 70% of
the surface of the Earth is covered by liquid or frozen water. Because of this, Earth is sometimes called “blue planet.”

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2. It has surface or lithosphere which includes the crust and the upper mantle.
3. It has atmosphere that shelters it from the worst of the sun’s rays.
4. Planet Earth is habitable because it has the right distance from the sun. It is kept warm by an insulating atmosphere,
and it has the right chemical ingredients for life including water and carbon.
5. Planet Earth can provide water, oxygen, useful biological products for human, and has suitable weather and climate.
6. Earth is different from other planets in a way that it is the only planet with liquid water on the surface.

Earth, Venus, and Mars may have similarities:

(1) They all are terrestrial planets, made of solid rocks and silicates.
(2) They all have an atmosphere.
(3) They all almost have the same time to rotate on their axes.
(4) Earth and Mars both have water
(5) They all have carbon dioxide.
(6) All have land forms.

Earth, Venus, and Mars have differences:

(1) Venus has no water.

(2) Venus and Mars don’t have oxygen.
(3) Earth has life forms.

THINGS TO REMEMBER!

Earth is the only planet in the solar system that is capable of harboring life.
The reasons for this are the following:
 The solar system is found away from the galactic core which likely contains a massive black hole and releases
consistent bursts of radiation.
 The sun is capable of providing energy to living organisms for another five billion years or so.
 Earth is located in the Goldilocks zone or habitable zone which means that Earth’s temperature is neither too hot
nor too cold for liquid water to exist on the surface.
 The core in the interior of the planet produces a strong and stable magnetic field which protects organisms from
harmful cosmic rays and solar flares.
 The Earth’s moon helps to stabilize the planet’s rotation, therefore, preventing movements that could cause
severe climatic changes.
 The ozone layer is very important in protecting our planet from the harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
 The right amount of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gases present in the atmosphere are also vital in
supporting lives on the planet.
 Earth is the only place in the known universe confirmed to host life and is the only one known for sure to have
liquid water in the surface.

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 EARTH SCIENCE
Week 1
ACTIVITY SHEET
NAME: _______________________________________________________________________
STRAND: _______________________________________________________________________
GRADE & SECTION: _______________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT TEACHER: _______________________________________________________________________
DATE SUBMITTED: __________________

Pre-test

MULTIPLE CHOICES

Directions: Read each item carefully. Choose the letter of the best answer and write it on a separate sheet of
paper.

1. Which of the following contributes to Earth’s ability to sustain life?

A. The planet Earth’s core creates a strong and stable magnetic field.
B. The planet Earth is just at the right distance from the sun.
C. The planet Earth has a precisely tuned amount of water.
D. All of the above
2. The Earth is the only planet in the solar system that supports life. Which of these best explains the statement?
A. The planet Earth has only one moon that orbits around it.
B. The planet Earth is exposed to the sun’s rays.
C. The planet Earth has breathable atmosphere.
D. The planet Earth rotates in its own axis.
3. The following are the unique properties of the Earth, EXCEPT ____________.
A. It is located in the Goldilocks zone. C. It has strong magnetic field.
B. It has scarce amount of liquid water. D. Presence of the moon.
4. Why is the planet Earth called “the living planet?”
A. Because it has water at the surface. C. Because it sustains life.
B. Because it has atmosphere. D. All of the above
5. What makes the planet Earth habitable compared to other planets?
A. It has people C. It has soil
B. It has trees and plants D. It has liquid water
6. Why is Earth called a terrestrial planet?
A. It is placed at almost the middle planets. C. Because it is closest to the sun.
B. Because it is farther from the sun. D. Because it has life.
7. Which statement about the Earth’s energy in sustaining life is incorrect?
A. Earth has magnetic field to protect from solar radiation
B. Earth is kept warm by an insulating atmosphere.
C. Earth is in the right distance from the sun.
D. Earth survives in too little energy.
8. Which among the set of planets are called terrestrial?
A. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune C. Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus
B. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Earth D. Earth, Venus, Mars, Jupiter
9. Which of the following best describes the surface of the planet Earth?
A. It is mostly water surface with some areas of land.
B. It is cold, rocky, and covered with red dust.

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 C. It is cloudy and hot with lots of volcano.
D. It is composed of a thick layer of hydrogen gas.
10. What does Earth offer to human in order to sustain life?
A. Earth has sufficient nutrients from ocean to land.
B. Earth has abundant plant life.
C. Earth has sub-surface water or molten rock that can circulate and replenish nutrients for organisms.
D. All of the above.

Looking Back

NAME IT!

Directions: Let us check how well you know the planets in our solar system by supplying the missing
letters to complete the words described and represented by each picture. Write your answer on a
separate sheet of paper.

Activity Time

ACTIVITY 1: “WHAT IS THE MISSING WORD?”

Written Work - 10 points
DIRECTIONS: Complete each statement by filling in the blanks with the missing word. Choose your answers
from the box.

Magnetic Ultraviolet
Core Moon
Solar Earth
Water Nitrogen
Life Ozone Layer

The (1) ______________ also plays an important role for Earth to support life since it stabilizes the Earth’s
rotation preventing drastic climate changes to occur.

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The Earth is also protected by a/an (2) _______________ which shields life from harmful (3) __________ rays.

This prevents stripping of the Earth’s atmosphere by lethal cosmic rays and (4) __________________ flares

(5) ________________ is the only place in the universe that can support (6) __________________.

Our planet has molten metallic (7) _________________ which enables it to hold a strong and stable (8)
__________________ field.

The planet’s distance from the sun also allows the presence of liquid (9) ________________ and an active
water cycle.

The atmosphere is also composed of the right mixture of gases with 78% (10) ________________ and 21%
oxygen, which are perfect for life to exist.

ACTIVITY 2: “FIND THE DIFFERENCE”

Written Work - 10 points
DIRECTIONS: Use the picture and the table of Comparison of the Features of Venus, Earth and Mars stated below to
answer the Venn diagram and guide questions of this activity.

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ACTIVITY 3: “LET US SAVE PLANET EARTH”
Performance Task - 30 points
DIRECTIONS: List down (15) activities that you can do to save planet Earth. Identify those activities if it is in
the form of REDUCE, REUSE, OR RECYCLE.
Then attached here a photo/image that you are practicing REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE.

REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE

1. 1. 1.
2. 2. 2.
3. 3. 3.
4. 4. 4.
5. 5. 5.

ATTACHED YOUR PICTURES HERE!

REDUCE

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 ATTACHED YOUR PICTURES HERE!

REUSE

ATTACHED YOUR PICTURES HERE!

RECYCLE

Assessment

MULTIPLE CHOICES

Directions: Read each item carefully. Choose the letter of the best answer and write it on a separate sheet of
paper.

1. Which of the following contributes to Earth’s ability to sustain life?

A. The planet Earth’s core creates a strong and stable magnetic field.
B. The planet Earth is just at the right distance from the sun.
C. The planet Earth has a precisely tuned amount of water.
D. All of the above
2. How does Earth differ from its twin planet Venus?
A. Earth has a medium-layered atmosphere while Venus has a thin atmosphere.
B. Earth’s distance from the sun is nearer compared to Venus.
C. Earth has a lower surface temperature than Venus.
D. Earth’s distance from the sun is nearer compared to Venus.
3. The Earth is the only planet in the solar system that supports life. Which of these best explains the statement?
A. The planet Earth has only one moon that orbits around it.
B. The planet Earth is exposed to the sun’s rays.
C. The planet Earth has breathable atmosphere.
D. The planet Earth rotates in its own axis.
4. The following are the unique properties of the Earth, EXCEPT ____________.

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 A. It is located in the Goldilocks zone. C. It has strong magnetic field.
B. It has scarce amount of liquid water. D. Presence of the moon.
5. Why is the planet Earth called “the living planet?”
A. Because it has water at the surface. C. Because it sustains life.
B. Because it has atmosphere. D. All of the above
6. What makes the planet Earth habitable compared to other planets?
A. It has people C. It has soil
B. It has trees and plants D. It has liquid water
7. Which is not true about Earth when compared to Mars?
A. It has carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. C. It has water and atmosphere.
B. It has atmosphere that supports oxygen. D. It has life mechanism.
8. Why is Earth called a terrestrial planet?
A. It is placed at almost the middle planets. C. Because it is closest to the sun.
B. Because it is farther from the sun. D. Because it has life.
9. Which statement about the Earth’s energy in sustaining life is incorrect?
A. Earth has magnetic field to protect from solar radiation
B. Earth is kept warm by an insulating atmosphere.
C. Earth is in the right distance from the sun.
D. Earth survives in too little energy.
10. Which among the set of planets are called terrestrial?
A. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune C. Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus
B. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Earth D. Earth, Venus, Mars, Jupiter
11. Which of the following best describes the surface of the planet Earth?
A. It is mostly water surface with some areas of land.
B. It is cold, rocky, and covered with red dust.
C. It is cloudy and hot with lots of volcano.
D. It is composed of a thick layer of hydrogen gas.
12. What does Earth offer to human in order to sustain life?
A. Earth has sufficient nutrients from ocean to land.
B. Earth has abundant plant life.
C. Earth has sub-surface water or molten rock that can circulate and replenish nutrients for organisms.
D. All of the above.
13. Planet Earth is considered as “blue planet.” Which of the following best describes the surface of planet Earth?
A. Earth has atmosphere. C. Earth is covered with red dust.
B. Earth has lots of volcano. D. Earth has mostly water on the surface.
14. It was found out that Earth’s surface is covered with water. Approximately, how many percent of water
comprises the Earth?
A. 45% water C. 70% water
B. 60% water D. 50% water
15. Planet Earth is considered uniquely different from any other planets in the Solar system. Which among the
given choices correctly answers the statement?
A. Earth is the only planet that is mostly covered with water.
B. Earth is the only planet that is mostly made from rocks.
C. Earth is the only planet that turns around in space.
D. Earth is the only planet that changes structure.