Thursday, September 1, 2011

3rd Grade Science Test Vocabulary

Third Grade Academic Science Vocabulary: Common Core State Standards

atmosphere
The layer of gases that surround the earth.
The earth's atmosphere contains mainly nitrogen and oxygen.

conservation
In biology, the protection and management of living things. (Conservation has many meanings, depending upon that you are trying to protect.)
If you leave desert plants and animals alone, and only take pictures, you are practicing conservation.

energy
The ability of one object to do work on another.
1) Batteries provide the energy to move a Toyota Prius.
2)Windmills change wind energy into electrical energy.

extinct
Plants, animals, insects (organisms) that no longer live on earth.
The Dodo bird is extinct.
Dodo Bird


force
A push or pull that causes an object to change its speed, direction, or shape (e.g., the force of gravity).
The force of gravity between the earth and sun causes the earth to revolve around the sun.

geological features
What the earth looks like -- mountains, flat areas (plains), valleys, continents, islands, etc.
The geological features of the Tucson area include a fairly flat land (plain), surrounded by several mountain ranges.

life cycle
In biology, the total lifespan of a living thing, from conception to death.
In astronomy, the total lifespan of a star, galaxy, etc., from "birth" to death.
Nine months of the life cycle of a human being are spent in the womb where we receive oxygen and food from our mothers.

magnetic attraction
A property of materials that causes them to move toward one another.
Iron has more magnetic attraction that most other materials.

matter
Matter is a general term for the material that makes up all physical objects.
Some astronomers think there is a lot of dark matter in the universe. ("Stuff" that's out there that we can't see.)

moon phases (basic four)
The lighted portion of the moon seen from earth. The basic four phases are new, waxing, full and waning moon.
The Chinese astronomers have observed and written down the moon phases for thousands of years.

natural resources
The materials (plants, animals, water, minerals, gases, etc.) that were present when the earth was formed or that developed as the earth aged, without the help of human beings.
One of Arizona's most important natural resources is copper.

observe
To watch or to see.
People who observe and study the universe are called astronomers.



offspring
In biology, a new animal (organism) produced by one or more parents.
A "cub" is the offspring of bears; a child is the offspring of humans.

orbit
The curved path of an object around a point in space.
The earth's orbit around the sun is an ellipse.

organism
Animals, fungi, plants or micro-organisms capable of reacting to stimuli (touch, heat, cold, etc.)
Rio Vista gives a tee shirt to each organism (student) who attends the school.

photosynthesis
A chemical process used by plants, algae, and some bacteria that uses energy from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into mainly sugar. The "waste" product is oxygen (O2).

physical change
A change in texture, shape, color, volume, weight or density of an object or substance, that does not change its chemical nature.
Making a baseball bat out of wood changes the shape of the wood and is a physical change.
physical properties
Physical properties can of an object or substance are properties that can be measured.
Physical properties include color, flexibility, location, melting point, strength and many others.

pollution
Contaminants in the environment that harm the environment or living things.
There are many kinds of pollution, but the one we hear most about is air pollution.

predator
An animal, plant or any organism that hunts and eats its food; a hunter.
The coyote is one predator which lives around Tucson.

prey
The animal (an organism) which is hunted for food by a predator.
Pack rats are a favorite prey of Bobcats.
rotation
A circular movement of an object around a center or point.
The earth takes 24 hours to complete one rotation on its axis.

scientific method
The group of actions for investigating, getting new knowledge, or correcting previous knowledge. It consists of observation, measurement, and experiment, and the the formulation , testing, and the modification of hypothesis.
As 4th grade students, you will be expected to use the scientific method for your science project.

solar system
The sun and the planets, moons, asteroids, comets, etc., that orbit the sun.
The earth is the third plant from the sun in our solar system.

water cycle
The water cycle describes the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the earth.
Rain is part of the water cycle.

weathering
The breaking down of rocks, soils, minerals and man-made materials by contact with the earth's atmosphere, waters, plants and animal life.
In Arizona, the sun is responsible for most weathering.

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