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
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 gas – a state of matter in which the substance expands to take both the shape and the volume of its container
graduated cylinder – a container with measured markings used to measure the volume of liquids
liquid – take the shape of their container, filling the bottom of the container first; has the ability to flow
magnetism – a force of attraction that causes a magnetic material to move
mass – the amount of matter in something
matter – a substance that has mass and takes up space
metric system – the decimal measuring system based on the meter, liter, and gram as units of length, volume (capacity), and weight or mass
physical property – a property that can be observed, measured, or changed without changing the matter itself
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
triple beam balance – a tool used to measure masses very precisely
volume – the amount of space that a substance or object takes up
unit 2: investigating mixtures
dissolve – the process by which substances break down into small pieces and spread evenly in water
evaporation – to change from a liquid to a gas by adding heat
matter – anything that has mass and takes up space
mixture – a combination of two or more substances that can be separated in some physical way
physicalproperties– properties of matter that can be observed, measured, or changed without changing the matter itself
solution – a type of mixture in which the particles of one or more substances are dissolved (uniformly dispersed throughout) in another substance
unit 3: investigating energy
circuit – a closed conducting circle or loop through which current can flow
closed (complete,working)circuit – a closed conducting circle or loop through which current can flow
conductor – a substance or object that allows energy to flow through it easily
electricalenergy – a form of energy produced when electric charges flow through a conductor
energy – the ability to cause change or do work
insulator – a substance or object that does not allow energy to flow through it easily
lightenergy – a form of energy which our eyes can detect
mechanicalenergy– energy of motion
open(incomplete,broken)circuit – if the pathway is broken (burned out bulb, broken buzzer, wire cut, etc.), then electricity cannot continue to flow
soundenergy – energy produced by vibrations
thermalenergy – energy related to the temperature of an object or a substance
vibration – a series of small, fast movements back and forth or from side to side
unit 4: investigating force and motion
force – a push or pull that can change the position or motion of an object / material friction – a force that acts in an opposite direction to movement
gravity – the 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
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
unit 5: investigating natural resources
conservation – the protection, preservation, management, or restoration of natural resources
conserve – to use wisely, without waste; protect from destruction
fossilfuels– a fuel, such as coal, oil, or natural gas, formed in the geological past from the decayed remains of ancient organisms, such as plants and animals
humus – material in the soil formed from decayed plants and animals
nonrenewableresource – natural resources that are used up at a rate faster than they can be replaced
recycle – to process materials, such as paper, plastic, aluminum, steel, and glass, so they can be used to make new items
reduce – to use a smaller quantity
renewableresource – natural resources that are constantly being recycled; an example of a renewable resource is water
soil – a mixture of decaying organic material, weathered rock, water, mineral fragments, and air that takes thousands of years to develop
unit 6: investigating the changing Earth
deposition – process by which weathered and eroded material is deposited by wind, water, or ice
erosion – the process where earth materials are broken down and moved from one area to another
weathering – the action of physical conditions on Earth that cause earth materials to change in color, texture, composition, or form; process which breaks down rocks into smaller pieces
unit 7: investigating weather and the water cycle
atmosphere – air that surrounds the Earth; made of a mixture of gases condensation – the process of changing from a gas to a liquid
evaporation – the process of changing from a liquid to a gas
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
wateraccumulation– increasing water levels in ponds, lakes, streams and rivers, glaciers, snowpack, or water run-off
windconditions– how fast and in what direction the air is moving
windvane– a weather instrument used to show the direction of the wind; often ornamental
unit 8: investigating the sun, Earth, and moon systems
moonphases– the recurring appearance of the moon determined by the amount of reflected light from the Sun
orbit – the path that one object in space takes around another object in space
revolve – one complete orbit made by a planet or satellite around another object
rotate – the spinning of an object on its axis
seasons – one of the four periods of the year - spring, summer, autumn (fall), and winter; each season has different average temperatures, weather conditions, and lengths of daylight
shadow – a dark area or shape produced by an object coming between rays of light and a surface
tilt – a sloping position
unit 9: investigating energy flow in living systems
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
dependent – to rely on someone or something else
ecosystem – the living and nonliving components of an area
foodchain– a representation of the flow of energy from the Sun through producers to consumers and decomposers in an ecosystem
foodweb – a representation of several overlapping food chains in an ecosystem; includes the flow of energy from the Sun through producers to consumers and decomposers through multiple pathways
habitat – the place where an organism lives; habitats supply the organism with food, shelter, moisture, and temperature for survival
model – a picture, an idea, or an object that represents an object, a system, or a process and is used to help with understanding; models have advantages and limitations
producer – an organism that makes its own food (e.g., plants)
unit 10: investigating structures and behaviors of organisms
adaptation - a change or the process of change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment camouflage – coloration of an organism that is designed to deceive other organisms or to help it hide from predators
characteristic – a feature that helps to identify, tell apart, or describe; a distinguishing mark or trait; a physical attribute
function – what something is used for; purpose
inheritedtrait– characteristics that are determined by an organism’s genetics and passed from parent to offspring
learnedbehavior– behaviors that are acquired by an organism’s interactions with its environment and / or parents
mimicry – a superficial resemblance of one organism to another or to another object in nature; this trick coloration helps the organism avoid predation
offspring – a living organism that is made when a plant or animal reproduces
structure – a body part that does a certain “job” for an organism
survive – to continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship
unit 11: 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