This Learning Activity Sheet is written and designed to help you understand more about the physical characteristics of the soil. It will guide you to master the lesson on how characteristics of each type of soil differ from each other. Soil is formed over long periods of time. It can take up to 1000 years to form just an inch of soil. Soil is made up of four things: rock fragments, dead and living things ,water and air. There are various types of soil that undergo diverse environmental pressures. Soil is mainly classified by its texture, proportions and different forms of organic and mineral compositions.

1. LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET
IN SCIENCE
Quarter 4 – LAS 1 (Week 1): Compare and Contrast
the Characteristics of Different Types of Soil
Development Team of the Learning Activity Sheet
Writer:
MARIA LUISA B. ARIATE
Teacher III
Editors/Reviewers:
SHERNA A. OBRERO
Master Teacher II
IAN D. BELGA
Teacher I
JENNY E. CERVANTES
Master Teacher I
Evaluator:
ROWENA D. MANAOG
Education Program Supervisor I, Science
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2. Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Schools Division of Legazpi City
LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET in SCIENCE 4
Quarter 4– Competency 1- Week 1 (SY 2020-2021)
Name: ___________________________________________Section:_________Date:___________
COMPARING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOIL
I. Learning Skills:
A. MELC: Compare and contrast the characteristics of different types of soil.
B. Objective:
1. Compare and contrast the characteristics of different types of soil.
II. Introductory Concept
This Learning Activity Sheet is written and designed to help you understand more
about the physical characteristics of the soil. It will guide you to master the lesson on how
characteristics of each type of soil differ from each other. Soil is formed over long periods
of time. It can take up to 1000 years to form just an inch of soil. Soil is made up of four
things: rock fragments, dead and living things ,water and air.
There are various types of soil that undergo diverse environmental pressures. Soil is
mainly classified by its texture, proportions and different forms of organic and mineral
compositions.
Let us take a look at the pictures.
Observe how the two types of soil differ from one another based on their physical
appearances (color, texture, particles, ability to absorb water, etc.)
Sandy soil loose granular materials consist of small particles of weathered rock. It is
one of the poorest types of soil for growing plants because it has very low nutrients and
poor in holding water, which makes it hard for the plant’s roots to absorb water. This type
of soil is very good for the drainage system.
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3. .
Clay soil are tightly packed together with each other with very little or no airspace. This
soil has very good water storage qualities and making hard for moisture and air to
penetrate it. It is very sticky to the touch when wet, but smooth when dried. Clay is the
densest and heaviest types of soil which do not drains well or provides space for plant
roots to flourish.
Here is another set of picture. Observe and tell how each type of soil differ from
one another.
Loam soil has the ability to retain moisture and nutrients hence, it is more suitable
for farming. This soil is also referred to as an agricultural soil as it includes an equilibrium
of all three types of soil materials being sandy, clay, and silt and it also happens to have
humus. Apart from these, it also has higher calcium and pH levels because of
its inorganic origins.
Peat soil is high in organic matter and retains a large amount of moisture. This
type of soil is very rarely found in a garden and often imported into a garden to provide
an optimum soil based for planting.
Let’s have another type of soil.
Chalk soil is can be either light or heavy but always highly alkaline due to the
calcium carbonate or lime within its structure.
Silt soil made up of rock and other mineral particles which are smaller than sand
and larger than clay. It is the smooth and quite fine quality of the soil that holds water
better than sand. Silt is easily transported by moving currents and it is mainly found near
the river, lake, and other water bodies.

4. Study the table below. Are different types of soil differing in characteristics?
As you can see on the table the different types of soil have their own
characteristics meaning they have their own ability to sustain the life of living things.
They have different characteristics in terms of color, sizes, texture.
III. Learning Activities
EXERCISE 1: Directions: Complete the sentences below by filling the blanks with the
correct word. Choose your answer in the parentheses.
EXERCISE 2: Directions: Write True if the statement is correct and False if it is wrong.
Write your answer on the space provided
________ 1. Each type of soil does not differ from one another.
________ 2. Loam soil is better for planting than clay soil.
________ 3. Chalk soil can be either light or heavy while clay soil is heavy.
________ 4. Clay soil is brown in color while sandy soil is light gray.
________ 5. Loam soil particles is mostly sand while silt is mostly bedrock.
(peat, loam, clay, sandy, types, soil, chalk)
There are various ______ of soil that undergo diverse environmental pressures.
_______ is mainly classified by its texture, proportions and different forms of organic and
mineral compositions. The different types of soil are ______, ______, _______, ______,
________ and silt soil.

5. EXERCISE 3: Directions: Encircle the letter of the correct answer.
1. Which of these does NOT belong to any type of soil?
A. clay B. mud C. loam D. Sandy
2. Ellen grabs a soil sample on her hand and rolls it into a ball. What type of soil does
she use?
A. clay soil B. chalk soil C. peat soil D. silt soil
3. Which type of soil can hold the greatest amount of water?
A. chalk soil B. loam soil C. clay soil D. peat soil
4. What property of soil could be tested by rubbing them between fingers?
A. color B. weathering C. texture D. ability to retain water
5. What type of soil is highly alkaline due to the calcium carbonate or lime within its
structure?
A. chalk soil B. loam soil C. clay soil D. Sand soil
IV. Assessment:
A. Encircle the letter of the best answer.
1. It is a natural resource on earth that is made up of tiny particles of rocks and
decayed plants and animals.
A. rocks B. soil C .water D. none of the above
2. This is a type of soil which is very rarely found in a garden and often imported into a
garden to provide an optimum soil base for planting.
A. chalk soil B. clay soil C .peat D. silt
3. The soil which is fertile, easy to work with and provide good drainage
A. chalk soil B. clay soil C. loam soil D. peat soil
4. A type of soil that contains high proportion of sand and little clay.
A. chalk soil B. clay soil C. loam sand D. sand soil
5. This is can be either light or heavy but always highly alkaline due to the calcium
carbonate or lime within its structure. Some materials are hard.
A. chalk soil B. clay soil C. loam soil D. sand soil
B. Directions: Tell which types of soil are being compared. Choose your answer from
the box below.
_________________________ 1. One is considered as the poorest type of soil for
planting while the other is known as best soil for farming.
_________________________ 2. The type of soil that is loose in granules while the
other type is tightly packed together.
Sand soil and clay soil loam soil and peat soil chalk soil and silt soil
Sand soil and loam soil silt soil and clay soil

6. _______________________ 3. Both are good for planting because they retain
moisture and nutrients.
_______________________ 4. One is smaller than sand and larger than clay while
the other is known to be the heaviest type of soil.
________________________ 5. The type of soil that is highly alkaline due to calcium
carbonate or lime within its structure while the other type holds water better
than sand.
V. Reflection:
Complete this statement:
References:
References https://www.boughton.co.uk>products>topsoils>soil-types
https://www.byjus.com> Biology>Biology Article Accessed 16 July 2020
https://www.boughton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2019/07/sandy-soil-1.jpg
https://www.boughton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2019/07/clay-soil-1.jpg
https://www.boughton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2019/07/loam-soil-1.jpg
Accessed 16 July 2020 https://www.boughton.co.uk/wp-
content/uploads/sites/14/2019/07/peat-soil-1.jpg https://www.boughton.co.uk/wp-
content/uploads/sites/14/2019/07/chalk-soil-1.jpg https://www.boughton.co.uk/wp-
content/uploads/sites/14/2019/07/silt-soil-1.jpg
data:image/jpeg;base64,9j…5I+eRWV1AECJA7+dZ

7. Answer Key:
EXERCISE 1:
1.Type
2.Soil
3-7 – in any order (clay, chalk, sandy, loam, peat)
EXERCISE 2:
1. False
2. True
3. True
4. True
5. False
EXERCISE 3:
1. B
2. A
3. C
4. C
5. A
ASSESSMENT:
A. 1. B B. 1. Sand soil and loam soil
2. C 2. Sand soil and clay soil
3. C 3. Loam soil and peat soil
4. D 4. Silt soil and clay soil
5. A 5. Chalk soil and silt soil