Science Words (from Foss)
IV. SCIENTIFIC VOCABULARY SUMMARY
The following terms are a summary of the
vocabulary that may be used on the Science WASL without
definitions. More terms may be used with
definitions or examples as noted in the item specifications. The
plural form of all these words is assumed useable. However, other
forms of these words are not accepted unless specified. Every word
from a lower grade level may be used at a higher grade level.
Terms that build through the grade levels are
listed below, and appear in the Science WASL, with the
higher grade term in parenthesis.
|
5th |
|
Grade |
|
variable |
|
kept |
|
the |
|
same |
|
(controlled) |
|
variable |
|
changed |
|
(manipulated) |
|
energy |
|
of |
|
motion |
|
stored |
|
energy |
|
learned |
|
(acquired) |
|
state |
|
of |
|
matter |
|
heat |
|
energy |
|
8thGrade |
|
controlled variable (kept the same) |
|
manipulated variable (changed) |
|
energy of motion (kinetic) |
|
stored energy (potential) |
|
acquired (learned) |
|
state (phase) of matter |
|
heat (thermal energy) |
|
10th Grade |
|
controlled variable |
|
manipulated variable |
|
kinetic energy |
|
potential energy |
|
acquired |
|
phase of matter |
|
thermal energy |
This list of scientific vocabulary identifies
concepts and processes described in the science EALRs that all
fifth, eighth, and tenth grade students should
know without explanation.
These are not meant to be exclusive terms
used in the science curriculum. The science curriculum should build
in-depth understanding of these concepts and processes using many
instructional activities and other supporting terms. There will
never be a WASL items that asks a student to define a term. WASL
items ask students to use concepts named by these terms
Read columns left to right, grade levels are
followed by expected words from that level and that letter.
|
A |
5th Grade |
air |
amount |
|
amount of time |
8th Grade |
absorb |
acceleration |
|
accuracy |
acquired
(learned) |
adaptation |
affect |
|
air pressure |
applied force |
artery |
atmosphere |
|
atom |
attract |
axis |
10th Grade |
|
abiotic |
absorption |
amplitude |
asexual |
|
atmospheric |
atomic number |
B |
5th Grade |
|
balance scale |
bone |
brain |
8th Grade |
|
blood vessel |
body of water |
10th Grade |
bacteria |
|
biomass |
biotic |
C |
5th Grade |
|
cause |
cell |
centimeter (cm) |
characteristic |
|
chart |
classify |
climate |
color |
|
conclude |
conclusion |
condensation |
condense |
|
consumer |
continent |
cycle |
8th Grade |
|
camouflage |
carbohydrates |
carbon dioxide |
cell |
|
charge |
chemical |
circuit |
cold-blooded |
|
compare |
compound |
conduction |
contrast |
|
controlled
variable (kept the same) |
convection |
conversion |
core |
|
crust |
10th Grade |
celestial |
cell membrane |
|
cell nucleus |
cell wall |
circulatory
system |
concentration |
|
constraint |
contraction |
controlled
variable |
criteria |
|
D |
5th Grade |
data |
decomposer |
|
depend |
describe |
design |
diagram |
|
diameter |
direction |
dissolve |
8th Grade |
|
density |
description |
dew point |
10th Grade |
|
diffusion |
digestive system |
diversity |
E |
|
5th Grade |
Earth |
earthquake |
echo |
|
effect |
egg |
electrical |
electricity |
|
energy |
energy of motion |
erosion |
eruption |
|
evaporate |
evaporation |
event |
explain |
|
explanation |
8th Grade |
electron |
element |
|
eclipse |
ecosystem |
electrical force |
environment |
|
evidence |
evolution |
10th Grade |
electrical
charge |
|
electrical force |
electron shell |
endocrine system |
energy chain |
|
estuary |
expansion |
experiment |
experimental
control |
|
F |
5th Grade |
fair test |
feet |
|
flower |
food |
food chain |
force |
|
forest |
fossil remains |
fossil |
freeze |
|
function |
8th Grade |
frequency |
friction |
|
factor |
fat |
10th Grade |
family of
elements |
|
frictional force |
fungus |
G |
5th Grade |
|
gas |
glacier |
gram |
graph |
|
grassland |
gravity |
8th Grade |
genetic |
|
groundwater |
10th Grade |
galaxy |
gravitational
force |
|
H |
5th Grade |
habitat |
hand lens |
|
hardness |
heart |
heat energy |
8th Grade |
|
heat (thermal
energy) |
10th Grade |
honesty |
hormone |
|
host |
hydrosphere |
hypothesis |
I |
|
5th Grade |
identify |
inch (in) |
inclined plane |
|
inherited |
input |
invent |
invention |
|
investigate |
investigation |
8th Grade |
igneous |
|
image |
insoluble |
interpret |
interpretation |
|
intestine |
issue |
10th Grade |
impact |
|
inconsistent |
infer |
inference |
interference |
|
investigative
control |
investigative
plan |
investigative
question |
J |
|
5th Grade |
K |
5th Grade |
kilogram (kg) |
|
kilometer (km) |
|
kinetic energy |
L |
|
5th Grade |
lake |
leaf |
learned
(acquired) |
|
lever |
liquid |
liter (L) |
living |
|
lung |
8th Grade |
landform |
landform profile |
|
landslide |
landmass |
lunar |
10th Grade |
|
law |
logical |
M |
5th Grade |
|
machine |
magnetic |
magnifying glass |
material |
|
melt |
meter (m) |
mile (mi) |
milliliter (mL) |
|
model |
molecule |
Moon |
mountain |
|
muscle |
8th Grade |
magnetic force |
magnetic pole |
|
magnetism |
manipulated
variable (changed) |
mantle |
mass |
|
matter |
metamorphic |
metamorphosis |
meter stick |
|
micro organism |
microscope |
millimeter (mm) |
minerals |
|
mixture |
10th Grade |
manipulated
variable |
mechanical
energy |
|
metaphor |
meteorology |
N |
5th Grade |
|
nonliving |
nutrient |
8th Grade |
natural
selection |
|
neutron |
nitrogen |
nucleus |
10th Grade |
|
neurological
system |
nuclear energy |
nuclear fission |
nuclear force |
|
nuclear fusion |
O |
5th Grade |
object |
|
observe |
observation |
ocean |
orbit (revolve) |
|
orbit
(revolution) |
organism |
organize |
ounce |
|
output |
oxygen |
8th Grade |
opinion |
|
organ |
10th Grade |
offspring |
ova |
|
P |
5th Grade |
part |
pattern |
|
picture |
pitch |
plan |
planet |
|
pound |
precipitation |
predict |
prediction |
|
problem |
procedure |
process |
producer |
|
property |
pull |
pulley |
push |
|
8th Grade |
particle |
pattern |
phase of the
moon |
|
phenomena |
phenomenon |
predator |
prediction
(hypothesis) |
|
pressure |
prey |
property |
protein |
|
proton |
10th Grade |
parasite |
periodic table |
|
phase change |
phase of matter |
photosynthesis |
photosynthesize |
|
pistil |
potential energy |
principle |
Q |
|
5th Grade |
question |
|
R |
|
5th Grade |
radius |
rate |
report |
|
reproduce |
reproduction |
result |
river |
|
root |
8th Grade |
radiation |
recycle |
|
reflect |
reflection |
relationship |
relative
position |
|
relative speed |
repel |
report |
resource |
|
respiration |
responding
variable (dependent) |
river system |
rock cycle |
|
10th Grade |
refract |
refraction |
relationship |
|
reproduce |
reproduction |
reproductive
system |
research
question |
|
respiratory
system |
responding
variable |
S |
5th Grade |
|
sea |
seed |
shadow |
shape |
|
size |
skeleton |
soil |
solar |
|
solid |
solve |
sort |
sound |
|
special |
speed |
spin (rotate) |
spring scale |
|
sprout |
state of matter |
stem |
stored energy |
|
stream |
strength |
structure |
substance |
|
summary |
Sun |
system |
8th Grade |
|
scientist |
sediment |
sedimentary |
solar system |
|
soluble |
solution |
specialized |
sphere |
|
state (phase) of
matter |
stomach |
stored
(potential) energy |
subsystem |
|
summarize |
10th Grade |
scattering |
scavenger |
|
seismic |
sexual |
skeletal system |
skeptical |
|
solubility |
solute |
solvent |
sperm |
|
spherical |
spinal cord |
spore |
stamen |
|
succession |
T |
5th Grade |
table |
|
temperature |
texture |
thaw |
thermometer |
|
tool |
8th Grade |
telescope |
tissue |
|
topographic |
transfer |
transmit |
10th Grade |
|
theory |
thermal |
thermal energy |
topography |
|
toxin |
transformation |
transmission |
U |
|
5th Grade |
8th Grade |
unexpected |
10th Grade |
|
V |
5th Grade |
vapor |
variable |
|
variable changed
(manipulated) |
variable kept
the same (controlled) |
vibration |
volcano |
|
8th Grade |
valid |
vein |
volume |
|
10th Grade |
virus |
validate |
validity |
|
W |
5th Grade |
waste |
water |
|
weather |
weight |
wind |
8th Grade |
|
warm-blooded |
water table |
wavelength |
weathering |
|
wind direction |
wind speed |
10th Grade |
wind direction |
|
wind speed |
wind current |
work |
X |
|
5th Grade |
Y |
5th Grade |
yard |
|
|
Z |
5th Grade |
|
Math Vocabulary
