Medley, Jessica / Science

Science Curriculum

Welcome to 5th grade Science!

One of the major topics we study in Science this year is Weather. Please encourage your student to watch the weather forecasts daily, weekly or as often as you deem appropriate. This will really help them to better understand this topic and build background knowledge.

Here are *most* of the vocabulary terms your student should know by the end of the year. Which ones do you already know? Which words do you need to learn? There is a copy of these terms you can print or download in the classroom documents page.

abiotic	a non-living thing
aquatic biome	biomes that are mostly made of water
biome	a large scale ecosystem
biotic	a living thing
brackish	a mixture of salt water and fresh water
carnivore	an organism that eats only meats
community	all populations together in one area
coniferous forest	a subarctic, conifer forest, biome that starts where the tundra ends.
consumer	an organism that eats to get energy
deciduous forest	a forest biome in which the main plants found are broad-leaved trees that lose their leaves in the winter. This biome has moderate temperatures, moderate amounts of rain and has seasons. This is our biome!
decomposer	an organism that breaks down the tissues of dead organisms
ecosystem	a community and its physical environment
energy pyramid	shows the amount of energy available to pass from one level of a food chain to the next
estuary	the place where freshwater empties into an ocean.
food chain	a diagram that shows how energy moves through an ecosystem
food web	a diagram that shows the relationships between different food chains
fresh water	water that is not salty
grasslands	a biome that is classified as a flat, rolling plain with many types of grasses.
herbivore	an organism that eats only plants
individual	1 single organism
ocean	large body of saltwater divided by continents
omnivore	an organism that eats plants and meats
organism	a living thing
photosynthesis	the process that plants use to make food
population	all of one kind of organism
predator	an organism that eats other organisms
prey	an organism that is hunted
producer	an organism that uses sunlight (photosynthesis) to get energy (plants)
rain forest	a tropical forest biome found near the equator that receive large amounts of rain (at least 100 inches) and are typically warm and humid.
salt marsh	a community of vegetation near estuaries and sounds
salt water	water that is naturally salty (For example: oceans & seas)
scavenger	an organism that eats dead organisms
species	a group of individuals having common attributes
terrestrial biome	biomes that are mostly made of land
air mass	a large body of air which has the same humidity and temperature throughout
air pressure	the weight of the atmosphere pressing on a certain place
anemometer	a weather instrument that measures wind speed
barometer	a weather instrument that measures air pressure
cirrus	the highest forming cloud that is wispy and made of ice crystals
climate	the average weather conditions of a specific area
cloud	a collection of water droplets/ice crystals found in the air
cold front	a cold air mass pushes under a warm air mass making it rise
cumulonimbus	a cumulus cloud that brings rain
cumulus	a fluffy, flat bottomed, cloud
front	the boundary between two air masses
humidity	the amount of moisture (water) in the air.
hygrometer	a weather instrument that measures humidity
jet stream	a fast flowing river of air found in the atmosphere that moves from west to east.
land breeze	a breeze that blows from the land toward the sea (during the night)
local winds	winds that blow over small areas.
meteorologist	a person who studies weather
rain gauge	a weather instrument that measures the amount of rain
sea breeze	a breeze that blows from the sea toward the land (during the day)
stratus	the lowest forming cloud that is blanket-like
temperature	how warm or cold the air is
thermometer	a weather instrument that measures temperature
warm front	a warm air mass moves in and goes over a cool air mass
weather	the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place
weather map	a map or chart that shows weather conditions for a large area
weather vane	a weather instrument that tells which direction the wind is blowing
wind	moving air
wind vane	shows wind direction
aquifer	layer of rock, gravel, or sand that collects groundwater
condensation	the process of water vapor turning into liquid water droplets
evaporation	the process of liquid water turning into a gas
groundwater	water that is absorbed by the land (the water that is found in the land)
precipitation	water that falls to the earth as hail, mist, rain, sleet, or snow
runoff	water that runs downhill until it reaches a main water source
transpiration	the process of plants releasing water vapor
water cycle	the process of water naturally passing from water vapor in the air to becoming precipitation which is deposited on earth's surface and eventually rises back into the air through evaporation
chemical change	changes in matter that makes a new substance and can't be reversed
physical change	changes to matter that changes how it looks
physical property	the traits of an object that can be seen such as size, color, and state
qualitative data	descriptive data, written in words
quantitative data	numerical data, written in numbers
conduction	the transfer of energy between things that are touching
conductor	a material in which heat can easily move through; ex: aluminum, steel
convection	the transfer of energy by the movement of liquids or gasses
energy	the ability to make things move or change
heat	the energy an object has because its particles are moving
insulator	a material in which heat cannot easily move through; ex: plastic, wood
radiation	the transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves
thermal energy	a form of energy that is created using heat
balanced force	forces that are equal in size but opposite in direction
force	the amount of push or pull on an object
friction	force that makes an object slow down or stop
gravity	force that pulls an object towards the center of the earth
magnetism	the force of pushing or pulling between magnet poles
mass	the amount of material in an object
matter	anything that has mass and takes up space
motion	process of chaining position
position	location of an object
speed	measure of distance over time
spring scale	a tool used to measure force
unbalanced force	when one force is greater than the other force, causing the weaker one to move
allele	a pair of genes that code for the same trait
dominant	strong and in control
genes	a set of instructions in human cells that determines inherited physical features
genotype	the result of heredity that results in diseases and disorders
heredity	the passing of traits from parents to children
inherited trait	a characteristic that a living thing gets from its parents
instinct	a natural ability or action
learned behavior	skill that an animal develops after it is born
offspring	a child in relation to their parent
phenotype	a trait that can be seen
physical feature	make up how you look
recessive	weaker genes
blood	the fluid that is pumped by the heart; it carries oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and carries waste products away
bones	give body structure and support
brain	the core of the nervous system; it collects information and makes decisions
cardiovascular system	system that consists of the heart, blood, and blood vessels
cells	the smallest part of a living thing that can carry out all the processes of life
circulatory system	system that carries oxygen, food, and wastes throughout the body
digestive system	system that breaks down food so it can be used by the body
esophagus	a long tube that leads to the stomach
fitness	the state of being physically fit; process to stay healthy and strong
health	the general condition of the body or mind
heart	an organ made of muscle tissue; pumps blood through vessels
intestines	made up of the small and large intestines that continues to break down the wastes before it leaves the body
involuntary muscles	are muscles that you cannot control such as blinking
lungs	the main structures of the respiratory system
mouth	the beginning of digestion; breaks down food into smaller pieces
multi-cellular	an organism made up of more than one cell
muscular system	system that is made up of all the muscles attached to bones
nerves	carry messages from inside or outside the body
nervous system	system that controls all the other body systems
nose	filters and moistens the incoming air
organism	a living thing
respiratory system	system that takes in oxygen from the air that you breathe
skeletal system	system that is made up of 206 bones that give the body structure and support
spinal cord	the pathway for messages between the brain and the rest of the body
stomach	the food is mixed with chemicals to help break it down
structure	a system made up of interrelated parts functioning as a whole
systems of transport	pathways used to carry blood, oxygen, nutrients, and wastes throughout the body
trachea	also known as the windpipe; the tube that carries air from the throat to the lungs
transport system	the way parts of the body work together to continue life and function properly
unicellular	an organism that is made up of only one cell
vessels	a tube in which body fluid circulates
voluntary muscles	move bones and hold your skeleton upright

Piney Grove Elementary School

Medley, Jessica

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