Word Wall Vocabulary

Cards (with definitions)Feel free to print these off to place onto your

word wall. When you print the slides, edit your preferences to the amount of slides you would like to print on a page. This will give you the option on what size the cards will be.

Properties of Matter Force, Motion and Energy

Sun, Earth and Moon

Foss Landforms Sharing the Planet

Terrestrial Environments

Biomes and Ecosystems

SolubilityDensityDisplacementParticlesConductorInsulatorMelting/Freezing PointBoiling PointDissolveMixtureSolutionMassVolumePhysical PropertiesMatter 

CoilCurrentElectrical EnergyElectromagnetLight EnergySound EnergyThermal EnergySwitchInertiaSpeedReflectionRefractionCircuitMechanical EnergyForceFrictionGravityMotion/MovementPosition

AxisTilt Lunar CycleTidesOrbitRevolutionRotation  

CanyonConstructive ForceDestructive ForceGlacierPlateauSand DuneDeltaSedimentary Rock WeatheringDepositionErosion

Fossil FuelsFossilsBiofuelAlternative EnergyHydroelectricGeothermal  

ClimateCarbon Dioxide-Oxygen CycleGerminationPhotosynthesisPollinationTerrarium Ground WaterWeatherTranspirationProducerRun Off 

DecomposerComplete MetamorphosisBiomeEcosystemsIncomplete MetamorphosisInstinctNicheNymphScavenger ConsumerHabitatInherited TraitLearned BehaviorAbiotic Biotic 

Grade 5 Critical Vocabulary Content Words

Investigating Science Safely*Teacher Notes: Unit one vocabulary has a large range of words. Not all words will be introduced within unit one. The words need to be introduce throughout the year as needed.

Theory

a general beliefor idea based on aset of facts or observations

Claima statement thatcan be proven or disproven by an experiment, test,or investigation

Inquirydiscovery; investigating to find an explanationto a scientific question based on evidence

Testable Question

a testable question can be easily tested and answered

through evidence of measurable change in an

investigation

InvestigationInvestigate

the process of searching for the answer to a question through

observation, data, and concluding based on

evidence

Experimenta process used to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate aknown scientificfact

Scientific Methodthe process scientists use to study and learn about the world around them;asking questions and finding answers

Procedurea particular way

of doing something;

a series of steps inan experiment or

investigation

Processa series of things

that happen which achieves some

result

Sequencethe order in which something happens

or is done

Modela small representation of an object or occurrence used

to study the real life object/occurrence

HypothesisHypothesize

an answer to the question based on prior knowledge;

will be tested through the experiment or investigation

If we increase the temperature of

a cup of water, then the amount

of sugar that can dissolve will

increase too.

PredictionPredict, Predictable

Statement of what will happen before it actually happens;sometimes based

on prior knowledge

VariableVary

the factor in an investigation or experiment that can change or be

changed; the thingbeing tested

Water No Water

Factorany thing or certain

condition in an investigation or situation

Significanta factor that is important or

makes a difference in the results

Water is a significant factor in plant growth.

ObserveObservation

to closely look at the physical properties of

something by using the 5 senses; describe how something looks, feels, smells, tastes, measure

it, look for changes, compare

InteractInteraction

to act a certain way towards something; a relationship; causing some effect or change to the other thing

MeasureMeasurement

to find out the length, mass, volume, weight of an object by using tools such as a ruler, balance, graduated

cylinder, or scale

AccurateAccurately

a statement, measurement or

result that is exact, correct in details,

very close to being perfect

Inaccuratenot correct or accurate, an error may have been made

Supportgiving evidence that, or reasons why something

could be true or isthe best choice;

supporting a hypothesis

Reasonableif something, a

statement, hypothesis, or

conclusion makes sense or not

Evidencefacts, observations, or information that prove

something could be true

Increaseto become more, greater; to grow

Decreaseto become less,

smaller

Changeto become different in

appearance, size,behavior; found by

observing and comparing

Analyzeto study data and results closely and think about what the results mean; to understand allof the parts

Compareto look for similarities and differences between two

or more objects, organisms,

situations, or the before and after in

an experiment

Classifyto arrange in groups or categories basedon characteristics or

properties thatobjects or organisms

have in common

Determineto figure something out;

to make a decision by looking at observations,

evidence, results

Estimateto come up with an approximate result ormeasurement; close to the exact, real resultor measurement

Identifyto recognize and know who or what someone

or something is

Affectto cause a difference or change in something

Effecta change or difference that is a result of an action or interaction between factors

Resultsthe outcome or information from an investigation or experiment, used to support a hypothesis or make a conclusion

Datafacts or observations

gathered from an investigation to be

analyzed and used to draw a conclusion

Trialthe number of times an

experiment or investigation is repeated

Justifyto show or prove to be right or reasonable; a conclusion to an investigation can be

justified by observations or results

ConclusionConclude

an answer to the question; a statement

made that can be justified or proven by

data and results

InferenceInfer

a conclusion made using reasoning

and evidence

ExplainExplanation

making something understandable by giving details and reasons behind

a conclusion or decision

Triple beam balance

used to measure the mass

of solid objects by moving gram

weights across three bars

Double-pan balance

used to compare the mass of two different objects

Digital scaletool used to

measure the massor weight of an

object or substance in grams

Graduated cylinder

tool used to measure the

volume of liquidsin milliliters (mL)

Hot platea tool used to heat

materials in beakers

and other containers

Thermometerused to measure

the temperature of various substances

in degrees Fahrenheit and degrees Celsius

Hand lensMagnifying glass

a tool used to magnify a small object

or material in order to closely

observe the physical properties

Spring scale

a tool used to measure the

weight ofan object in

Newtons (N) using the force of gravity

Unit of measurethe name given to the

measurement based on what is being

measured volume= mL

mass= glength= cm

Centimeter (cm) millimeter, meter, kilometerunit used to

measure distance or length, height, width of an object

Gram (g)milligram

unit used to measure the mass or weight of

something

Milliliter (ml)liter

unit used to measure the volume of a liquid

5th Grade Science Vocabulary

Properties of Matter

Mattersomething that has mass and takes up space

Conductorto have the quality of transmitting something (as light, heat, sound, or electricity)

Mixture

a combination of two or more substances where each keep their own properties and can be easily separated

Density

objects that are more dense sink in water; less dense objects float in water

Insulatormaterial that slows down or stops electric current or heat from flowing

Melting point

Oº C

the temperature at which a substance changes states from a solid to a liquid.

Freezing Point

Oº C

the temperature at which a substance changes states from a liquid to a solid

Boiling Point

100oC

the temperature at which a substance changes states from a liquid to a gas

Mass

the amount of matter in an object

Dissolveto break down and spread evenly in a liquid

Solutiona mixture of one substance dissolvedevenly in another

Volumethe amount of space that an object or substance occupies

Physical Propertiesappearances of an object including:mass, magnetism, physical state, relativedensity, solubility, and the ability to insulate or conduct heat or electricity

Particlesone of the extremely small pieces of matter that make up a solid, liquid, and gas

Solubilitymeasurement of the ability of a solid to dissolve in a liquid

Displacementthe difference between the initial position of something and any later position

5th Grade Science Vocabulary

Force, Motion and Energy

Coila wound spiral of two or more turns of insulated wire

Currentthe flow or passing of something such as electricity

Electrical Energy energy produced by the movement of electrons

Electromagnet type of magnet in which the magnetic field is produced by the flow of electric current

Light Energywaves of radiant

energy

Sound Energyenergy produced by vibration transmitted through a solid, liquid, or gas

Thermal Energy

energy that causes a transfer of heat between materials

Switcha device for turning on or off electric current

Refraction

energy waves that bend as they pass from one type of material to another (such as from air to liquid)

Reflection

energy waves bouncing off the surface of an object

Circuit

the pathway in which electrical current flows

Mechanical Energyenergy produced by motion

Speed

full, maximum, or optimum rate of motion

Inertiathe tendency of an object to maintain its state of rest or motion unless acted upon by an external force

Motion/Movement

a change of position

Frictionthe force that slows or stops motion when objects rub together

Gravity

the force that pulls objects to the center of the Earth

Position

NEAR

FAR

BEHIND

BESIDE

CLOSER

Where an object is located in space

Force

PUSH PULL

a push or pull that causes an object to stop, move or

change direction

5th Grade Science Vocabulary

Sun, Earth and Moon

Axisthe imaginary line about which a rotating body, such as the Earth, turns

Tiltthe angle at which a planet is positioned as it is on its axis usually a slight slope

Lunar Cyclethe appearance of the illuminated portion of the Moon as seen by an observer, usually on Earth

Ocean Tides

High Tide

Low Tide

the periodic rise and fall of the waters of the ocean produced by the gravity of the moon, and occurring about every 12 hours

Rotateto turn or spin on an axis; for Earth, one complete rotation is 24 hours

Revolve

the orbiting around another object; for Earth, it takes 1 year to

revolve around the Sun

5th Grade Science Vocabulary

FOSS Landforms

SedimentsSmall particles of rock,

soil, sand, or shell deposited by water, wind,

or ice

Canyon

a deep valley with steep sides, often with a stream or river flowing

through it

DeltaSediment

deposited at the mouth of a river.

Usually in a triangular shape.

Sand Dune

a ridge of sand created by the wind; found in deserts or near lakes

and oceans

Plateaua large, flat area of land that is higher

than the surrounding land

Sedimentary Rockformed from the deposition of sediments; sedimentary rocks consist of sediments that have been compacted and cemented together

Destructive Forcewear or break apart rock in landforms;earthquakes, water erosion, wind erosion

Glacier

an extended mass of ice formed from snow falling and accumulating over the years and moving very slowly

Constructive Force

force that builds something; when forces create new things like lava hardening creating new land

Weathering

the breakdown of rock into smaller pieces from water, wind and ice

Erosion

the movement of weathered material from Earth’s surface by water, wind and ice

Depositionthe build up of land by depositing sediments into a new location

Rapid Changechanges to the Earth’s surface that happen suddenly and may take seconds, days, or weeks to see

Slow Changechanges to the Earth’s surface that take thousands or millions of years to notice

5th Grade Science Vocabulary

Sharing the Planet

Fossilsthe remains or imprint of an organism from a previous geologic time

Fossil Fuelfuel created from something that was previously living; most common forms are coal, oil and natural gas

Alternative Energy

energy generated by natural processes; renewable sources of energy

Hydroelectric

electricity produced by falling or moving water

Geothermal

energy created from the internal heat of the Earth

Biofuel

fuel made from decomposing plants and animal waste

Wind Energy

moving air is converted by aturbine to mechanical and then to

electrical energy

Solar Energythermal and light energy from the sun that is used for heat

and to produce electricity

5th Grade Science Vocabulary

Terrestrial Environments

Germination

the process a seed goes throughto become a seedling

Pollination

the transfer of pollen from one flower to another; results in fertilization of a flower

Photosynthesis

the process in which plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to release oxygen into the atmosphere and to produce sugar (food energy)

Carbon Dioxide-Oxygen Cycle

Plants “breathe” in carbon dioxide and “breathe” out oxygen. Animals “breathe” in oxygen and “breathe” out carbon dioxide.

Transpiration

the process by which moisture is carried through plants from roots to the leaves, where it changes to vapor and is released into the atmosphere from the leaves

Producer

an organism that uses sunlight to make its own food for energy

Runoffthe movement of land water to the oceans by rivers, lakes, and streams

Climate

weather conditions of a region throughout the year or averaged over many years

Terrariuma glass container, usually enclosed, for growing and displaying plants

Weatherthe state of the atmosphere on a given day such as, temperature, precipitation, and humidity

Groundwaterthe water beneath the surface of the ground, consisting largely of surface water that has seeped down; the source of water in springs and wells

5th Grade Science Vocabulary

Biomes and Ecosystems

Incomplete Metamorphosis

insect development that happens in 3 stages: egg, nymph, adult

Complete Metamorphosis

insect development that happens in 4 stages: egg, larva, pupa, adult

Decomposer

an organism that gets its energy by eating dead organisms, non-living material, or wastes

Scavengeran organism that feeds on dead organic matter

Instinct

a behavior that an organism is born

knowing how to do

Nymphthe stage of incomplete

metamorphosis during which an

insect eats and grows and resembles a

smaller version of the adult insect

Ecosystema community of

living and nonliving things

within an environment

Biome an area with a specific climate that is home to a major community of plants and animals with similar requirements of environmental conditions

Nichethe role an

organism plays in its environment

Consumeran organism that feeds on plants or

other animals

Habitatthe natural

environment of an organism; where

the organism lives

Inherited Traitsa characteristic

passed from the male and female

parents to the offspring or child

Biotic

Factors in the environment that

are living.

Abiotic

Factors in the environment that

are not living

Learned Behaviorbehavior that is

acquired as a result of the experience of

the individual organism (e.g., learning to play baseball well)