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Science Activity Sheet

Quarter 4 - MELC 1
Week 1
Types of Soil

REGION VI – WESTERN VISAYAS

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Science 4
Activity Sheet No. 1
First Edition, 2021

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the payment of royalties.

This Learning Activity Sheet is developed by DepEd Region 6 – Western

Visayas.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this learning resource may be

reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical
without written permission from the DepEd Regional Office 6 – Western Visayas.

Development Team of Science Activity Sheet

Writers: Ma. Fe U. Tolentino
Thedy Mae P. Ruiz
First Editing:
Ofelia C. Sualog
Jona D. Rabanes

Content and Language Editing:

Mary Cherry Lynn M. Dalipe

Division of Aklan Management Team:

Miguel Mac D. Aposin
Samuel J. Malayo
Dobie P. Parohinog
Mary Cherry Lynn M. Dalipe
Mahnnie Q. Tolentino

Regional Management Team:

Ramir B. Uytico
Pedro T. Escobarte Jr.
Elena P. Gonzaga
Donald T. Genine
Rovel R. Salcedo
Moonyeen C. Rivera
Anita S. Gubalane
Minda L. Soldevilla
Daisy L. Lopez
Joseph M. Pagalaran

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Name of Learner: _____________________________________________________
Grade and Section: ___________________________Date: ____________________

SCIENCE 4 ACTIVITY SHEET NO. 1

Types of Soil

I. Learning Competency with Code

Compare and contrast the characteristics of different types of soil

(S4ES-IVA-1)

II. Background Information for Learners

Soil covers most of the land part of the earth. You find plants,
animals, houses and other organisms on the soil. We live on the soil and
it help us in many ways. Different types of soil have different physical
characteristics. Each soil types differs in color, texture, odor and its ability
to hold water. Some soils are good for planting while others are not. The
presence of the different kinds of vegetative plants in a place is an
evidence of a good quality of soil in the area or location. Sometimes, a
combination of soil is observed in some areas of the country. There are
four main types of soil namely:

TYPES OF SOIL

Source: https://byjus.com/biology/types-of-soil/

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 Types of
Common Characteristics
soil

Sandy has the coarsest particles. It can be of light or dark

1. Sandy color. It is one of the poorest types of soil for growing plants
because it has very low nutrients and poor water holding
capacity, which makes it hard for the plant’s roots to absorb
water.

Silt is a type of soil that is finer than sand but coarser than
clay. It has smooth and fine texture that holds water better
2. Silt
than sand. Silt can be brownish or dark in color just like clay,
silt holds water and becomes sticky.

Clay is the finest of all the soil particles. It is brownish in

color, tightly packed together and very sticky to touch when
3. Clay
wet, but smooth when dry. Clay is good for making pots and
jars but it is not good for plants.

Loam is the combination of sand, silt, clay and humus.

Humus includes decaying matters like leaves, branches,
4. Loam plants and animals. Humus makes the soil rich in natural
fertilizer. Loam has a fine texture and can hold enough water
and oxygen.

III. Accompanying DepEd Textbook

Department of Education. (2015). K-12 Basic Education Curriculum,

Science 4 Learners Material (pp. 249-250). Pasig City, Philippines

Department of Education. (2015). K-12 Basic Education Curriculum,

Science 4 Teacher’s Guide (pp. 290, 297). Pasig City, Philippines

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IV. Exercises/Activities

Activity 1: Am I Fast or Slow?

What you need:

• 3 pcs. of plastic spoons
• 3 pcs. of plastic cups (same size and shape) with tap water
• 3 packs of different soil samples (labelled A, B, and C)
• 3 pcs. clear drinking glasses
• Pentel Pen/ Marker

What to do:

1. With the help of Parents or other adult family members. Go out to the
garden. Collect some soil on the top of the ground, dig a hole on the
ground get sticky soil and dig deeper to get sandy soil.

2. Fill each clear plastic cup with the same amount of soil at least ¾ full.
Cup A containing a soil from top of the garden, Cup B with sticky soil
and Cup C with sandy soil.

3. Place one cup on the top of clear drinking glass to serve as a catch
basin of the water that will drip from the plastic cup. As seen in the
picture below:

Plastic cups
Clear glass

4. Observe each sample. Fill-out your answer on the table below.

5. Pour at least ¼ cup water on each soil labelled A, B and C at the

same time.

6. Put check in the appropriate column based on your observation.

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 Characteristics Observations
Cup
No. Type of Soil
Absorbs Absorbs Absorbs
Color Texture Water Water Water
Fast Moderately Slowly
A

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Guided Questions:
1. What type of soil is best for growing plants? Why?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

2. How does each soil sample differ?

_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

3. In which cup or sample was water absorbed the fastest? Why?

_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

4. In which cup or sample was water absorbed the slowest? Why?

_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

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Activity 2: Puzzle time!
Direction: Fill in the crossword puzzle with the correct answers
from the given questions below.
3. 1.

4. 2.

5.

DOWN
1. It is the combination of sand, silt and clay.
2. It is the poorest type of soil for growing plants.
ACROSS
3. It has smooth and fine texture and holds water way better than sand.
4. It makes the soil rich in natural fertilizer.
5. It is sticky when wet and has the finest texture.
Activity 3: Let’s compare and contrast!
Direction: Write down the characteristics of different types of soil
below.
Characteristics of
Different Types of Sandy soil Silt Clay Loam
Soil
Texture

Particle Size

Color

Ability to hold water

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Activity 4: Soil Senses
Direction: Look for different types of soil in your surrounding and
answer the table below.

How does it
Types of soil How does it look?
Location feel?

At the garden

At the gate
area/ outside
the door
Under the tree

V. Reflection:

Complete the statements below

I Understand
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

I don’t understand
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

I need more about

_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

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VI. Links and/or Other References

https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=layers+of+soil&rlz+1C1GYPO_
enPH747PH747&source=1nms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj6k
m8fYAhXIf7wKHR-
3BOMQ_AUICigB&biw=1024&bih=494#imgrc+DIsKxviOLd7SHM:

https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=layers+of+soil&rlz+1C1GYPO_
enPH747PH747&source=1nms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwG_4
H1m8fYAhWCE7wKGRdnB5UQ_AUICigb&biw=1024&bih=494#imgr
c=q6hMOpSI-tClyM

https://byjus.com/biology/types-of-soil/

https://madhavuniversity.edu.in/soil-types.html

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Answer Key
Characteristics Observations Type
Cup
Absorbs Absorbs Absorbs
No. Color Texture
Fast Moderate Slow
Loam
A black fine ✓
red/dark Clay
B finest ✓
brown
Brown/ Loose/ Sandy
C ✓
grayish rough
Guide Questions (possible answer)
1. What type of soil is best for growing plants? Why?
Loam soil is the best for growing plants since it contains humus which is high in
nutrition and loam soil can hold enough water for the plants.
2. How does each soil sample differ?
The soils differ in their physical characteristics. Soils differ in color, texture, odor and
their water holding capacity.
3. In which cup or sample was water absorbed the fastest? Why?
Water absorbs fast in cup C (Sandy). Because, the particles are coarse and loose.
4. In which cup or sample was water absorbed the slowest? Why?
Water absorbs slow in cup B (Clay). Because, the particles are packed
together tightly, it is sticky when wet and has the finest texture.
Activity 2: 1. Loam 2. Sandy 3. Silt 4. Humus 5. Clay
Activity 3: (possible answers)
Characteristics of
Different Types of Sandy soil Silt Clay Loam
Soil
Texture loose finer than sand finest fine
Color brown/grayish brownish to dark brown black
ability to hold fast slow slowly moderate
water
Activity 4: (answers may vary)
VII. Answer Key