science – knowledge about the natural world that is based on facts learned through experiments and observation
hypothesis – an idea or explanation that you then test through study and experimentation
observation – getting information by using your senses
experiment – the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation
empirical evidence – information collected by observation and testing
variable - the thing that is different in a controlled experiement
the metric system
metric system – the decimal measuring system based on the meter, liter, and gram as units of length, volume and mass
matter – anything that has mass and volume
mass – the amount of matter in an object
gram – the base unit of measurement for mass
length – the distance of an object from one end to the other
meter – base unit of measurement for length
volume – the amount of space something takes up or its capacity
liter – the base unit of measurement for volume
unit 1: investigating properties of matter
attract – to cause to draw near or stick together by physical force
Celsius – the international unit of measurement for temperature
condensation – the process of changing from a gas to a liquid
cooling – the process of becoming cooler; a falling temperature due to removal of thermal energy
energy – the ability to cause change
evaporation – the process of changing from a liquid to a gas
freezing / freeze – to change from a liquid to a solid state by removal of thermal energy
gas – a state of matter in which the substance takes both the shape and the volume of its container
heating – the process of becoming warmer; a rising temperature due to the addition of thermal energy
liquid – take the shape of their container, filling the bottom of the container first
magnet – an object that attracts (pulls) iron and a few other magnetic materials, such as nickel and cobalt; can push or pull objects
magnetic – able to be attracted by a magnet or magnetized
magnetism – a force of attraction that causes a magnetic material to move
mass – the amount of matter in something
matter – anything that has mass and takes up space
melting / melt – to change from a solid to a liquid by adding thermal energy
mixture – a combination of two or more substances that can be separated in some physical way
nonmagnetic – not attracted to a magnet
physical change – change which alters the physical properties of a substance without changing its identity
physical property – properties of matter that can be observed, measured, or changed without changing the matter itself
repel – to present an opposing force to; push back or away by a force
solid – definite shape and size
states of matter – the forms matter can take, such as solid, liquid, and gas; sometimes called phases of matter
temperature – a way of measuring how hot or cold something is; temperature is measured using either the Fahrenheit (F) or Celsius (C) scale
thermal energy – energy related to the temperature of an object or a substance
water vapor – the gas state of water
unit 2: investigating energy
electrical energy - the movement of electrons energy – the ability to cause change or do work
lightenergy– a form of energy on the electron magnetic spectrum that can sometimes be visible to us
kinetic energy - energy of something that is moving
mechanicalenergy – mechanical energy = potential energy + kinetic energy
potential energy - energy stored because of the position of something
soundenergy– energy produced by vibrations
thermal energy– energy related to the temperature of an object or a substance that is transferred as heat
vibration – a series of small, fast movements back and forth or from side to side
unit 3: investigating force and motion
attract – to cause to draw near or adhere (stick together) by physical force
force – a push or pull that can change the position or motion of an object / material
friction - a force that opposes motion in two objects that are touching
gravity – a force that pulls objects toward each other
magnetism – a force of attraction that causes a magnetic material to move
motion – a change in the position of an object
position – the place where something is located; where something has been put
pull – the act of applying force to move something toward or with you
push – the act of applying force in order to move something away
repel – to present an opposing force to; push back or away by a force
unit 4: investigating the natural world
decomposition – the process by which decomposers break down dead material and waste into simpler substances
earthquake – shaking of the Earth that is caused by the release of energy stored in the outermost layer of the Earth
erosion – the movement of weathered material by wind, water, or ice
erupt – to suddenly become active through the release of lava, ash, and gases from a volcano
geologist – a person who studies Earth’s rocks and minerals
landform – a physical structure on Earth that occurs naturally
landslide – large mass of soil and rock that suddenly moves down the side of a steep surface
model – a picture, idea, or object that represents an object, a system, or a process and is used to help with understanding; models have advantages and limitations
naturalresource– anything that people can use, such as minerals, water, plants, or soil, which comes from nature.
soil – a mixture of rock and mineral particles, organic matter, water, and air that forms on Earth’s surface by weathering of rock and the decomposition of plant and animal remains
volcano – an opening in the Earth’s surface through where lava can flow onto the surface during an eruption
weathering – the breaking down and wearing away of rock (or other matter)
unit 5: investigating the solar system
limitations – a restriction or weakness
model – a picture, idea, or object that represents an object, a system, or process that is used to help with understanding; models have advantages and limitations
moon – a natural object that orbits a planet; Earth’s Moon is the only natural satellite and Earth’s nearest neighbor in space
orbit – the path that one object in space takes around another object in space
planet – a large object that orbits a star; the Earth (a planet) orbits the Sun (star)
revolution (revolve) – one complete circle made by a planet or satellite around another object
solarsystem – the Sun and all of the objects that move around it
sun – a star composed of gases; provides Earth with most of its light and heat energy
unit 6: investigating weather
atmosphere – air that surrounds the Earth; made of a mixture of gases
meteorologist – a scientist who studies the weather
precipitation – water that falls to the Earth’s surface as rain, snow, sleet, or hail
raingauge– a tool for collecting and measuring the amount of precipitation that falls
temperature – a way of measuring how hot or cold something is; temperature is measured using either the Fahrenheit (F) or Celsius (C) scale
weather – day-to-day condition of the atmosphere in an area; weather has short-term variations (minutes to weeks)
windvane– a weather instrument used to show the direction of the wind; often ornamental
unit 7: investigating ecosystems
community – populations that live in the same place at the same time
consumer – an organism that eats other organisms (plants and / or animals) for food
decomposer – an organism that gets energy by feeding on dead materials and waste
ecosystem – the living and nonliving components of an environment
foodchain– representation of the flow of energy from the Sun through producers to consumers and decomposers in an ecosystem
perish – to die
population – all of the organisms of the same species that live in the same place at the same time
predator – an animal that naturally preys on others
prey – an animal that is hunted and killed by another for food
producer – an organism that makes its own food (e.g., plants)
thrive – to live, grow, and reproduce successfully
unit 8: investigating structures and functions of organisms
adaptation - a change or the process of change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment
environment – all of the living and nonliving elements in a particular (geographic) area
function – what something is used for; purpose
habitat – the place where an organism lives; habitats supply the organism with food, shelter, moisture, and temperature for survival
protection – the instinct in animals for self-preservation; a way to “fight back” and defend itself when threatened
structure – a body part that does a certain “job” for an organism
survive – continue to live or exist
unit 9: investigating life cycles
germinate – the period in a plant’s life cycle when a seed begins to grow (after a period of dormancy)
lifecycle– sequential stages of growth and development that an organism goes through in its lifetime