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WEEK 2
Science
Quarter 4 – Module 1
Describe How Rocks Turn into
Soil
 What I Need to Know

It is hard to believe, but the tiny grains of sand you see at the beach
were once part of giant boulders. Over many years, these huge rocks were
broken down into smaller pieces in a process called weathering. The factors
that cause breaking down of rocks include water, wind, temperature, plants,
animals, and humans.
Have you ever visited or seen in pictures the rock formation in
Minalungao National Park in Nueva Ecija?
The breaking of rocks results in the formation of soil and different
landforms that is why we have amazing rock formations in the Philippines.
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. define weathering;
2. identify the different factors of weathering; and
3. describe how rocks turn into soil (S5FE-IVa-1).

What I Know

Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answers on a

separate sheet of paper.

1. It is the breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces.

A. erosion
B. flooding
C. runoff
D. weathering
2. A type of weathering that involves change in the composition of rock
that allows them to break down into pieces.
A. chemical
B. deposition
C. erosion
D. mechanical
3. What do you call the process by which humans extract stones or
rocks from a quarry by digging or blasting?
A. drilling
B. flattering
C. plowing
D. quarrying

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 4. What will happen to a rock when it is exposed to high temperature?
A. It will sink.
B. It will expand.
C. It will contract.
D. It will evaporate.
5. Which of these factors can bring about mechanical weathering?
A. acids
B. carbonation
C. oxidation
D. wind
6. How can water make rocks break?
A. It makes the rock to contract.
B. The color of water breaks the rock.
C. The abundance of coral reefs breaks the rock.
D. The strong waves that hit the rocks can break them.
7. What is mechanical weathering?
A. It is a process where rocks are chemically changed.
B. It is a process where rocks are broken down by oxidation.
C. It is a process where rocks are worn away from acid in plant
roots.
D. It is a process where rocks are physically broken into smaller
pieces.
8. What is chemical weathering?
A. It is the change in appearance of rocks.
B. It is the transport of rock particles elsewhere.
C. It is the breaking down of rocks due to a change in their
chemical composition.
D. It is a process where rocks are physically broken into smaller
pieces because water, wind, temperature, and living organisms.
9. How can temperature make the rocks break?
A. It grows between the cracks of rocks.
B. The acid attacks and dissolves stones made of calcite.
C. It gives iron-rich rocks a rusty-colored surface which weakens
the rock.
D. The repeated expansion and contraction of rocks due to changes
in temperature results in weathering.
10. The diagram shows a natural process that weathers rock. Which
statement best explains why this process results in weathering?
A. Water acts as a solute.
B. Water contracts when it freezes.
C. Water dissolves most types of rocks.
D. Water hitting the rocks make them break.

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Lesson
Describe How Rocks
1 Turn into Soil
Soil is formed by the combination of physical, chemical, and biological
processes in which huge rocks are broken down into smaller pieces over a
long period of time. This process is called weathering. There are two main
types of weathering: mechanical weathering and chemical weathering.

What’s In
In Grade 4, you have learned the three main types of soil and the
different layers of soil. Below is a vocabulary word list with missing letters.
Read the definition to complete the words. Write your answers on a separate
sheet of paper.

Definition Vocabulary Word

1. These are broken small pieces of rocks

caused by weathering that cover the land S_IL
part of the Earth.

2. These are organic materials that can be

seen in the topsoil. H_M_S

3. The scientist who studies origin,

composition, and distribution of soils and P_DOL_GI_T
the materials from which soils are formed.

4. It is a type of soil made up of very fine

particles of rocks. It holds much water and CL_Y
is sticky when wet.

5. It is a type of soil which particles are

S_ND
coarse and loose.

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6. It is a mixture of sand and clay that
contains large amount of decayed plants and L_AM
animals.

7. It is the uppermost layer of soil rich in

organic materials and minerals needed for T_PSO_L
plant growth.

8. It is located just below the topsoil. It is

composed of loosely arranged rocks, sand, S_BS_IL
and clay.

9. It is composed of rocks that are slowly

breaking apart and is exposed to very little P_R_NT R_OCK
weathering.

10. It is the lowest of the soil layers and is

made up of undisturbed large boulders and B_DR_CK
gravel.

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 What’s New

Venn Diagram
This diagram shows the comparison between mechanical and
chemical weathering. It also shows the similarities between the two.

Mechanical Weathering Chemical Weathering

It only brings about Types of It breaks down rocks

physical change. Weathering by changing their
chemical composition.
It is the breaking down
Breaking It is the breaking down of
of rocks caused by
down of rocks when oxygen
different factors such as
rocks attacks the iron in rocks.
temperature, water,
wind, plants, animals,
and humans.
Change the It is the breaking down
Earth’s of rocks when carbon
No chemical change
surface dioxide and water form
takes place.
carbonic acid that
dissolves rocks.

Activity 1
Write MW if the statement shows Mechanical Weathering or CW if it
shows Chemical Weathering. Write your answers on a separate sheet of
paper.

1. Cracks on the rocks are caused by heating and cooling.

2. Water freezes inside small holes in rock causing the rock to split up.
3. Breaking of rocks are caused by acid rain.
4. Tree roots grow into the rocks breaking it into soil.
5. Combination of oxygen and iron can break cement statues.
6. Strong waves hit the rocks causing them to break.
7. Chemical reactions wash away the surface of the rock.
8. Heated rocks expand causing it to exert pressure on each other.
9. Rabbits dig holes.
10. Iron reacts with oxygen and water making the rock rusty-colored
and crumbly or easy to break.

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 What is It

Rocks are hard, compact, and solid. They continuously break into
small pieces. This process is called weathering. Different factors act
constantly making rocks break and turn into soil. These factors include
temperature, air, water, and living organisms. In weathering, the rock may
just crumble down into smaller pieces or it may produce some other new
substances (Bureau of Elementary Education of the Department of
Education, 2010).

Types of Weathering
There are two main types of weathering processes: mechanical and
chemical. Living organisms can also trigger weathering that may result to
mechanical or chemical change.

Mechanical Weathering is the breakdown of rock where no chemical

change takes place, and no new substances are produced. It is also
called physical weathering. The rocks may change their size, but they
are still the same kind of rock. It can be caused by any of the following
factors:

1. Temperature
Surface rock is heated by the sun.
During the day, the rock expands. At night,
the rock cools and contracts. This unequal
expansion and contraction cause the rock to
crack and break apart (Balatbat & Reyes,
2013).

2. Water
Water can break rocks in different
ways. The strong waves that hit the rocks can
make them break. It can seep into the cracks
of the rocks. When it gets colder, water turns
into ice and expands that can trigger rocks to
break as well (Sarte, Garcia, Lopez, Dela Cruz,
& Arradaza, 2016).

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3. Wind
As the wind blows, it carries sand or
small rock particles that scratch the
rock’s surface. This can bring about
mechanical weathering which can also
result to different rock formations (Sarte et
al., 2016).

4. Plants
Roots may grow between the cracks
of rocks. As the roots grow, the cracks
become deep and wide causing the rock to
break into pieces.

5. Animals
Animals that live underground also
contribute to weathering. As burrowing
animals such as rabbits, moles, and
badgers dig deeper, they cause rocks to
break into pieces, too.

6. Humans
Humans also cause breaking of
rocks. Some construction workers use
jackhammers to break boulders or rock as
they build houses and repair roads. They
extract stones or rocks from a quarry.

Chemical Weathering is the breakdown of rock by changing its

chemical composition. It results to both physical and chemical
changes. It gives iron-rich rocks a rusty-colored surface which
weakens the rock. Also, when carbon dioxide in air combines with
water, they form carbonic acid. This acid attacks and dissolves
mineral called calcite. Rocks made up of calcite such as limestone,
sandstone, and marble can be broken down this way (Balatbat &
Reyes, 2013).

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Activity 1Visual Challenge
Match the descriptions in Column A with the terms in Column B.
Write only the letter of the correct answer. Write your answers on a separate
sheet of paper.

Column A Column B
1. This acid attacks and dissolves A. burrowing animals
mineral called calcite. B. carbonic acid
2. It is formed from weathering of C. chemical weathering
rocks. D. humans
3. In this weathering process, only the E. mechanical weathering
physical appearance of rocks F. minerals
changes. G. plants
4. It is the process of breaking down of H. soil
rocks into smaller pieces. I. temperature
5. It is the process where change in the J. water
chemical composition of rocks takes K. weathering
place.
6. They live underground and
contributes to weathering by
burrowing and digging.
7. When it gets colder, it turns into ice,
expands, and can trigger rocks to
break.
8. It contributes to the expansion
and contraction of rocks.
9. They contribute to weathering by
using jackhammers to extract
stones.
10. These living organisms grow
between the cracks of rocks causing
the rocks to break into pieces.

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Activity 2.1
Find five (5) words in the puzzle that are related to weathering. Write
your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

a c i d r a i n n d h p

g h s w t o p s o i l m

v b h j h g f p k n t g

t r m e c h a n i c a l

x c t m y n w q t d s q

t e m p e r a t u r e q

r c h e m i c a l b l w

t w l v g x q y p y k g

y q k c n d r w w i n d

Activity 2.2
Complete the diagram by identifying the different factors involved in
weathering. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
2.

4. 5.

1.

3.

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Activity 3
Fill in the box to complete the concept map about weathering. Choose
your answers from the words inside the ribbon below and write them on a
separate sheet of paper.

Weathering
is the breaking
down of rocks into

1.

through the two processes called

2. 3.

that brings only that changes the composition

physical change of rocks when carbon dioxide
by the factors combines with water to form

4. 10.

5.

6.
Animals
Carbonic acid
Chemical Weathering
7.
Humans
Mechanical Weathering
Minerals
8. Plants
Soil
Temperature
Water
9. Wind

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 What I Have Learned
Complete the paragraph by filling in the blanks with the appropriate
terms found inside the box below. Write your answers on a separate sheet of
paper.

Rocks continuously break into small pieces over the years. This
process is called (1) __________. The two main types of weathering are (2)
__________ and (3) __________. Mechanical weathering is caused by factors
such as water, wind, temperature, humans, plants, and (4) __________.
Chemical weathering occurs when carbon dioxide in air combines with water
forming (5) __________. This acid attacks and dissolves mineral called calcite.
Rocks made up of calcite can be broken down this way.

animals carbonic acid chemical weathering

mechanical weathering soil weathering

What I Can Do

Mountain A Mountain B

Mountain A is 4,900 feet tall. Mountain B is 19,280 feet tall. Both

mountains were originally tall and were formed by the uplifting of Earth’s
crust million years ago. They are made of the same kind of rocks and are
found in a place with the same hot and cold climate. They are both slowly
breaking down.
How can you describe the weathering process happened to both
mountains? Provide an explanation for your answer. Write your answer on a
separate sheet of paper.

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 Rubric for What I Can Do
4 3 2 1
Content The The explanations The The explanations
explanations are clear and explanations are are not clear.
are very clear accurate. somewhat clear.
and accurate.
Sentence No spelling, Few spelling and Many spelling Many spelling,
Structure punctuation, or punctuation and punctuation, and
grammatical errors with minor punctuation grammatical
error. grammatical errors with errors that
errors. minor interfere with the
grammatical ideas presented.
errors.
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Assessment

Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answers on a separate
sheet of paper.

1. Which is a factor of mechanical weathering?

A. acid rain
B. carbon dioxide
C. living organisms
D. oxygen
2. Rocks that are made of _________ can be broken down when carbon
dioxide in air combines with water to form carbonic acid.
A. acid
B. calcite
C. iron
D. rust
3. What is the color of the surface of rocks that undergo combination of
oxygen and iron that makes them weak?
A. black
B. gray
C. rusty-colored
D. white
4. Which process involves the breaking down of rocks by wind, water,
temperature, and living organisms?
A. chemical weathering
B. deposition
C. erosion
D. mechanical weathering

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 5. How do plants contribute to weathering?
A. Plants expand when cooled.
B. Plants contract when heated.
C. Roots remove the minerals of rocks.
D. Roots of the plants grow into small spaces and gaps of rocks.
6. It is a place where stones are extracted by humans.
A. open field
B. quarry
C. reservoir
D. road
7. One example of mechanical weathering is when animals _________.
A. dig the soil.
B. die on the rocks.
C. break the concrete roads.
D. walk on the surface of rocks.
8. What is formed when carbon dioxide combines with water?
A. carbonic acid
B. iron
C. oxygen
D. rust
9. Which of these animals can bring about physical weathering?
A. cow
B. dog
C. goat
D. rabbit
10. Which process involves both change in physical appearance and
composition of rocks?
A. chemical weathering
B. deposition
C. erosion
D. mechanical weathering

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 20
What I Know What’s In What’s New What’s More
1. D 1. SOIL 1. MW Activity 1
2. A 2. HUMUS 2. MW 1. B
3. D 3. PEDOLOGIST 3. CW 2. H
4. B 4. CLAY 4. MW 3. E
5. D 5. SAND 5. CW 4. K
6. D 6. LOAM 6. MW 5. C
7. D 7. TOPSOIL 7. CW 6. A
8. C 8. SUBSOIL 8. MW 7. J
9. D 9. PARENT ROCK 9. MW 8. I
10. D 10. BEDROCK 10. CW 9. D
A A A 10. G
A
What’s More What’s More What I Have Learned
Activity 2.1 Activity 3 1. weathering
2. mechanical weathering
1. acid rain 1. soil 3. chemical weathering
2. mechanical 2. mechanical weathering 4. animals
3. chemical 3. chemical weathering 5. carbonic acid
4. temperature (4-9 in any order) A
5. wind 4. water
5. wind
Activity 2.2 6. temperature
1. water 7. plants
2. temperature 8. animals
3. animals 9. humans
4. humans 10. carbonic acid
5. plants A
What I Can Do Assessment Additional Activity
Both mountains are in the 1. C 1. Weathering makes the rock turn
same hot and cold 2. B into soil through mechanical and
climate. The temperature 3. C chemical processes.
makes the rocks contract 4. D 2. Weathering helps to form soil. It
and expand causing it to 5. D also provides amazing land
break. 6. B formations. It provides us
A 7. A materials that can be used in
8. A building roads and houses.
9. D A
10. A
A
Answer Key