Science 7 Modular

SCIENCE 7
FOR APRIL 8, 2024(MONDAY ACTIVITY)

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING IN A 1 WHOLE SHEET OF PAD PAPER. COPY AND
ANSWER.
1. How does our latitude position affect the water, soil resources, and biodiversity in
the country?
2. What mineral deposits do we have in the country? Where are they located and why
only in those places?
3. Given our location, what energy resources are available?
4. Which of our practices in using natural resources are sustainable? Which are not
sustainable?
5. How can we help conserve natural resources so that future generations can also
enjoy them?
FOR APRIL 9-10, 2024 (TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY ACTIVITY)

READ AND STUDY! COPY IN YOUR SCIENCE NOTEBOOK.
NOTE: NO COPY, NO BONUS POINTS FOR SUMMATIVE TEST.
Water Resources and Biodiversity

The Philippines boasts of many different kinds of natural water forms, such as bays,
rivers, lakes, falls, gulfs, straits, and swamps. Because it is made up of islands, the
country's coastline (seashore) if laid end-to-end, would measure around 17.5 thousand
kilometers. And you know how we are proud of our coastlines! The bodies of water and
its surrounding environment not only support the survival of diverse organisms for food
but are also used for other economic activities. All these you learned in Araling
Panlipunan.
In the previous activity you identified two big bodies of water on the west and east side
of the country: the Pacific Ocean in the east and south China Sea in the west (sometimes
referred to as the West Philippine Sea). These bodies of water are the origin of typhoons
which on the average, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), is about 20 a year. Typhoons and the
monsoons (amihan and habagat) bring lots of rain to the Philippines.
What is your association with too much rainfall? For some, rain and typhoons result in
flooding, landslides, and health related-problems. But water is one of nature’s gifts to us.
People need fresh water for many purposes. We use water for domestic purposes, for
irrigation, and for industries. We need water to generate electricity. We use water for
recreation or its aesthetic value.
Many resorts are located near springs, waterfalls or lakes.
Where does water in your community come from? You collect them when the rain falls or
get them from the river, deep well, or spring. But where does water from rivers, lakes,
and springs originate?
They come from a watershed – an area of land on a slope which drains its water into a
stream and its tributaries (small streams that supply water to a main stream). This is the
reason why a watershed is sometimes called a catchment area or drainage basin. It
includes the surface of the land and the underground rock formation drained by the
stream.
From an aerial view, drainage patterns in a watershed resemble a network similar to the
branching pattern of a tree. Tributaries, similar to twigs and small branches, flow into
streams, the main branch of the tree. Streams eventually empty into a large river
comparable to the trunk. Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes. They cross towns and
provinces. In other parts of the world, they may cross national boundaries.
There are many watersheds in the Philippines basically because we have abundant
rainfall. Do you know that Mt. Apo in Davao-Cotabato, Makiling- Banahaw in Laguna and
Quezon, and Tiwi in Albay are watersheds? You must have heard about La Mesa Dam in
Metro Manila, Pantabangan Dam in Pampanga, and Angat Dam in Bulacan. These
watersheds are sources of water of many communities in the area. The Maria Cristina
Falls in Iligan City is in a watershed; it is used to generate electricity. Locate these places
in your map.
Ask elders where the watershed is in or near your area? Observe it is used in your
community.
But watersheds are not just about water. A single watershed may include combination of
forest, grassland, marshes, and other habitats. Diverse organisms in the Philippines are
found in these areas! Being a tropical country, the Philippines have abundant rainfall,
many bodies of water, and lots of sunshine. The right temperature and abundant rainfall
explain partly why our country is considered to be a mega-diverse country. This means
that we have high diversity of plants and animals, both on land and in water (Philippine
Clearing House Mechanism Website, 2012).
Reports show that in many islands of the Philippine archipelago, there is a high number
of endemic plants and animals (endemic means found only in the Philippines). The
country hosts more than 52,177 described species of which more than half is found
nowhere else in the world. They say that on a per unit area basis, the Philippines shelters
more diversity of life than any other country on the planet.
For now remember that the main function of a watershed is the production of a
continuous water supply that would maintain the life forms within it and in the area fed
by its stream. Later you will learn that besides supporting the survival of varied life
forms, abundant water in the country is important in moderating temperature. This topic
will be discussed later.
Have you ever asked yourself the following questions? If we have abundant rainfall to
feed watersheds, why do we experience drought some parts of the year? What factors
affect the health of a watershed? Is there a way of regulating the flow of water in
watershed so that there will be enough for all throughout the year? What can people do
to keep watersheds ‘healthy’? Find out about these in the next activity.

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SCIENCE 7

FOR APRIL 8, 2024(MONDAY ACTIVITY)

FOR APRIL 9-10, 2024 (TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY ACTIVITY)

Water Resources and Biodiversity

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