WEEKLY LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

Earth and Life Science, Quarter 2, Week 2

UNIFYING THEMES IN THE STUDY OF LIFE

Learning Competency:

Describe how unifying themes (e.g., structure and function, evolution, and ecosystems) in
the study of life show the connections among living things and how they interact with each other
and with their environment (S11/12LT-lla-3)
Specific objectives:
1. Identify the different unifying themes of life;
2. Infer how themes are interrelated in the study of life; and
3. Discuss the relationship of unifying themes among living things and environment
and its interconnectedness.
Key Concepts
Earth and Life Science pp.163-168

Ecology is the branch of biology that deals with the study of living organisms and
their relationships with each other and their environment.
All living things share fundamental properties that define a living organism.
Unifying themes refer to common characteristics that all living things have and
shared. Unifying themes show the connections among living things and how they
interact with each other and with their environment.

Unifying Themes
1. Structure and functions. A
relationship exists between
structure
and function at all levels of
biological
organization. In biology,
structure is
always related to function.
Within the
many kinds of organisms in the living
world, body structures seem carefully
designed to carry out their functions.

Figure 1 Concept of Structure and Function

Source:https://www.philippineeaglefoundation.org/the
philippine-eagle

plants-attract-hummingbirds
2. Evolution. The theory of evolution
helps explain how all the kinds of
organisms came into existence. It helps
 explain why organisms look the way
they do and how organisms of the past
are related to organisms alive today. It
also explains the relationship among
various groups of living organisms.
Charles Darwin proposed the Theory of
Evolution, which proposes organisms
with more favorable traits will be more
likely to survive and reproduce. These traits are Figure 2 Concept of Evolution
called adaptation. Source: https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2018/ 07/23/evolution-
is-aimless-how-do-we-explain-external testicles/

Author: Pat II E. Baguio

School/Station: Manat National High
School Division: DepED Agusan del Sur
email address: [email protected]
3. Ecosystems. An ecosystem consists of a Sample Ecosystem in the Philippines
Source:https://fpe.ph/biodiversity.html/view/the-lay-of the-land-
community of organisms together with their ecosystem-diversity-in-the-philippines
physical environment. It can be of different
sizes and can be marine, aquatic, or
terrestrial. Broad categories of terrestrial
ecosystems are called biomes. Organisms
need an ecosystem or physical environment to
survive. They need substances like water,
nutrients, and gases from the environment.
Living things interact with each other and with
the environment.

4. Energy and Life. Living organisms obtain

energy from the food they eat. Plants undergo
photosynthesis where they convert the
energy from the sun into sugar. Since most of
the animals cannot produce their own energy,
they get the energy from the consumption
and assimilation of the biomass of plants and
other animals.

Figure 4
Energy Flow in an Ecosystem
Source:https://www.tutorialspoint.com/environmental_
studies/environmental_studies_energy_flow_in_ecosyste m.htm

Figure 3
 5. Thermal Regulation. The
ability of an
organism to regulate their
internal
conditions is called
homeostasis. While
the environment often varies
a lot,
organisms act to keep their
interior
conditions relatively constant. The
human body will maintain an internal
temperature of 37ºC (98.5ºF) however
hot or cold the weather might be.
Figure 5 Concept of Homeostasis
Source:https://web.facebook.com/notes/earth-and- life
science/43-the-connections-and-interactions-among
living-things/1837669823136332/?_rdc=1&_rdr

Author: Pat II E. Baguio

School/Station: Manat National High
School Division: DepED Agusan del Sur
email address: [email protected]
6. Levels of Organization. The cells are
considered as the basic unit of life. All living
organisms are made up of cells. When cells
come together, they form the tissues. A group
of tissues that perform the same functions
form the organs. A group of organs that works
together form the different organ systems. An
organism consists of many organ systems but
functions as one individual.

Figure
6 The
Levels
7. Reproduction ensures the survival of species. of
All living organisms reproduce either through Organization
Source:https://www.simply.science/index.php/organi zation-of-
asexual or sexual reproduction. In asexual
life
reproduction, the offspring inherits the
genes from a single parent. However in
sexual reproduction, the offspring inherits
the genes from two individual parents.
Some examples of animals that undergo
asexual reproduction include earthworms,
hydra, and planaria.
8. Growth and Development. Growth refers to
an increase in size evident through physical
change. On the other hand, development
refers to a process of gradual
transformation. All organisms grow and
develop according to specific instructions
coded for by their genes. These genes provide
instructions that will direct cellular growth
and development, ensuring that a species’
young will grow up to exhibit many of the
same characteristics as its parents

Figure 7 Types of Reproduction

Source:https://pmgbiology.com/2016/02/15/differences between-
sexual-and-asexual-reproduction-3-1-3-2/
 Figure 8 Growth and Development
Source:https://sites.google.com/a/delvalleisd.org/educatio n-and-
training-pathway/human-growth-and-development

Author: Pat II E. Baguio

School/Station: Manat National High
School Division: DepED Agusan del Sur
email address: [email protected]
Exercises/Activities

Exercise #1: I’m alive, I’m useful. I’m not alive, I’m still useful.
Objectives:
1. Identify the different unifying themes that organisms possess to be considered
alive
2. Discuss the connections of living things and how they interact with others and
their environment
What you need: Bond paper and pen
Instructions:
1. Study the table below.
2. Put or draw a symbol of heart if it’s living and square if it’s non-living in the
second column.
3. In the third column, provide at least 2-3 reasons anchored in the unifying
themes to justify the answers you provide in the preceding column.
4. Lastly, explain the significance of its interconnection towards other organisms
and their environment.
5. Use a separate sheet of paper for your output.
Organism Living Reason Interconnection Unifying Theme
or Non
Living

Trees 1. Trees grow and Trees are vital 1.Growth and

develop. to all living Development
2. It is capable to organisms 2.Reproduction
reproduce. because it 3.Energy
3. It used energy to provide oxygen.
carry out its
functions.

1.Bacteria

2.Rocks

3.Algae
 4.Sunlight

5.Water

Scoring Rubrics
for Reasons and
Interconnection
3pts. – Answers
are completely
correct and
explained concisely.
2pts. – Answers are correct but not explained concisely.
1pt. – Answers are correct but no explanations provided.

Author: Pat II E. Baguio

School/Station: Manat National High
School Division: DepED Agusan del Sur
email address: [email protected]
Exercise #2: Picture Talk: Tell Us How?
Objective:
1. Illustrate and discuss a visual representation of unifying themes in the study of
life.
2. Develop creativity and artistry in accomplishing given tasks.
What you need:
(Materials for those who can provide pictures)
1. Old newspapers, catalogue, brochure, and magazine
2. Pictures of different organisms found in your locality
3. Scissors
4. Glue
5. Bond paper
6. Ballpoint pen
(Materials for those who cannot provide pictures)
1. Pen/Pencil
2. Crayons
3. Bond Paper
4. Other art materials
What to do:
(For those who can provide pictures)
1. Cut the image of different organisms found in the old newspaper and other
unused materials like old catalogue, brochure, and magazine.
 2. Select images that can be used to represent each of the unifying themes.
3. Paste the select images in the bond paper according to its theme.
4. On the last column of the table, write at least 2-3 sentences that would explain
how your formed picture is connected to the theme.
5. Use a separate sheet of paper for your output.
(For those who cannot provide pictures)
1. Draw an image or figure that would represent each of the unifying themes in the
first column.
2. On the last column, write at least 2-3 sentences that would explain how your
drawn image is connected to the theme
3. Use a separate sheet of paper for your output.
Picture/Drawn image Explanation

1.Structure and Function

2.Evolution

3.Ecosystems

4.Energy and Life

5.Thermal Regulation

6.Levels of Organization

Scoring Rubrics for Exercise #2

10pts. – Pictures/drawings are creatively presented and explanations are comprehensively
expressed.
8pts. – Pictures/drawings are creatively presented and explanations are good. 6pts. –
Pictures/drawings are creatively presented and explanations are expressed in a less
comprehensive manner.
4pts. – Pictures/drawings are simply presented and explanations are expressed in a less
comprehensive manner
2pt. – Pictures/drawings are simply presented with no explanations.

Author: Pat II E. Baguio

School/Station: Manat National High
School Division: DepED Agusan del Sur
email address: [email protected]
Reflection
The youth are considered as the hope of the fatherland as claimed by Dr. Jose Rizal. As an
empowered youth, how will you use your voice to influence others in preserving and conserving
the living and non-living things in an aquatic and marine ecosystem? Answer in 5 sentences.
 Scoring
Rubrics

20 - Practical application is scientifically explained consistent to the concepts, and

has no misconception.
18 - Practical application is scientifically explained consistent to the concepts, but
with minimal misconception.
15 - Practical application is explained consistent to the concepts, but with
misconceptions.
0 - No discussion.

Author: Pat II E. Baguio

School/Station: Manat National High
School Division: DepED Agusan del Sur
email address: [email protected]
References for learners:

Printed Materials:
Religioso & Vengco – Earth and Life Science, Phoenix Publishing House, Inc. – 2016

Electronic Sources

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-biology1/chapter/introduction-to-the-themes-and
concepts-of-biology/
https://www.philippineeaglefoundation.org/the-philippine-eagle
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2018/07/23/evolution-is-aimless-how-do-we-explain
external-testicles/
https://web.facebook.com/notes/earth-and-life-science/43-the-connections-and-interactions
among-living-things/1837669823136332/?_rdc=1&_rdr
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/environmental_studies/
environmental_studies_energy_flow_in_ ecosystem.htm

https://sites.google.com/a/delvalle-isd.org/education-and-training-pathway/human-growth
and-development
https://pmgbiology.com/2016/02/15/differences-between-sexual-and-asexual-reproduction-
3- 1-3-2/

https://www.simply.science/index.php/organization-of-life

Author: Pat II E. Baguio

School/Station: Manat National High
School Division: DepED Agusan del Sur
email address: [email protected]
Answer Key
Exercise #1
Organism Living Reason Interconnection Unifying
or Non Themes
Living

1.Bacteria 1.Can multiply through Bacteria are 1.Reproducti

binary fission and other major player in on 2. Levels
means. the of
2. Have cellular decomposition or Organization
structures. organic materials.

2.Rocks 1. Rocks do not These are

reproduce. 2. They do significantly used
not die. as building
materials.

3.Algae 1.They reproduce. One of the major 1.Reproducti

2. They grow and develop. sources of on 2.Growth
oxygen. and
development

4.Sunlight 1.Don’t grow and It is the main

develop 2.The don’t source of energy.
reproduce.

5.Water 1.Water cannot take Water flushes out

foods and excrete. toxins in our
2. It does body.

Author: Pat II E. Baguio

School/Station: Manat National High School
Division: DepED Agusan del Sur
email address: [email protected]