5th Grade Science TAKS Vocabulary
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A
acceleration - change in motion caused by unbalanced forces or a change in velocity
acid rain-Precipitation resulting from pollution condensing into clouds and falling to Earth
action force- The first force in the third law of motion
adaptation-A structure or feature of an organism that helps it meet a particular need in its natural habitat
air mass- A large body of air that has nearly the same temperature and humidity throughout
air pressure- The weight of air
alveoli- Tiny air sacs located at the ends of bronchi in the lungs
amphibians- Animals that have moist skin and no scales
amplitude- The distance that any point on a wave has moved from its resting position; equal to half the wave height
analyze- to examine the parts of
angiosperm- A flowering plant
anthracite- A hard, black rock; fourth stage of coal formation
arachnid- An arthropod with eight legs and no antennae, such as a spider, scorpion, tick, or mite
asexual reproduction- Reproduction by simple cell division
asteroids- Chunks of rock that look like giant potatoes in space
asteroid- A chunk of rock and metal, smaller than a planet and larger than a meteoroid, that orbits the sun
asthenosphere- A zone of partially melted rock in the upper mantle of the Earth
astronomical unit (AU)- A measurement equal to the distance between Earth and the sun, a distance of about 150 million km (93
million miles)
atoll- A ring of islands around a shallow central lagoon
atmosphere- The layer of air that surrounds Earth
atom- The smallest unit of an element that has all the properties of that element
atomic number- The number of protons in an atom
axial tilt- The angle that a planet's axis is tilted from vertical
axis- An imaginary line that passes through Earth's center and its North and South poles
B
balanced forces- The forces acting on an object that are equal in size and opposite in direction, canceling each other out
bacteria- tiny living cells that “fix” nitrogen in the soil
biomass- Organic matter, such as wood, that is living or was recently alive
biome- A large-scale ecosystem
biome- A region of the world that is defined by its climate and the unique plants and animals that live there
bird- A warm-blooded animal that has feathers and lays eggs with hard shells
bitumen- A fairly hard, dark brown or black rock; third stage of coal formation
bone marrow- A connective tissue that produces red and white blood cells
buoyancy- The ability to float in a liquid or rise in a gas
C
capillaries- The smallest blood vessels
carbon dioxide-oxygen cycle- The process by which carbon and oxygen cycle among plants, animals, and the environment
carbon-oxygen cycle- The process by which carbon and oxygen cycle among plants, animals, and the environment
cell- The basic unit of structure and function of all living things
cell membrane- The thin covering that encloses a cell and holds its parts together
cellular respiration- The process by which cells release the energy in food to carry on life processes
chemical bonds- The forces that join atoms to each other
chloroplast- A kind of organelle in plant cells that contains chlorophyll, which enables the plant to make its own food
chlorophyll- A pigment, or coloring matter, that helps plants use light energy to produce sugars
chromosome- The threadlike strands inside the nucleus made up of DNA
classification- The grouping of things by using a set of rules
climate- The average of all weather conditions through all seasons over a period of time
climate zone- A region throughout which yearly patterns of temperature, rainfall, and amount of sunlight are similar
climax community- The last stage of succession
cold-blooded- Describes an animal whose body temperature changes as the temperature of the surroundings changes
combustibility- The chemical property of being able to burn
comet- Balls of ice and rock that circle the sun from two regions beyond the orbit of Pluto
community- All the populations of organisms living together in an environment
competition- The contest among organisms for the limited resources of an ecosystem
compound- A substance made of the atoms of two or more different elements
compound machine- A device that is made up of two or more simple machines
computer - a programmable machine that inputs, processes and outputs data
conclusion-a judgment supported by facts
condensation- The process by which a gas changes back into a liquid
conduction- The direct transfer of heat between objects that touch
conductor- A material that conducts electrons easily
conifer- A plant that grows cones that produce seeds
conserving- The saving or protecting of resources
consumer- An organism in a community that must eat to get the energy it needs
continental drift- A theory of how Earth's continents move over its surface
control- a feature that does not change in an experiment
convection- The transfer of heat as a result of the mixing of a liquid or a gas
convergent boundary- A boundary where crustal plates collide with each other
core- The center of the Earth
corona- The sun's atmosphere
cotyledons- The structures where food is stored in seeds
creep- the slow movement of soil downhill because of gravity
crust- The thin, outer layer of Earth
current- A stream of water that flows like a river through the ocean
cytoplasm- A jellylike substance containing many chemicals that keep a cell functioning
D
decay- the slow, natural breaking down of plant and animal matter
deciduous forest- A biome in which the dominant plants are broad-leaved trees that shed their leaves each fall
decomposer- Consumers that break down the tissues of dead organisms
density- The concentration of matter in an object
deposition- The process of dropping, or depositing, sediment in a new location
desalination- The process of removing salt from sea water
diffusion- The process by which many materials move in and out of cells
direct development- A kind of growth where organisms keep the same body features as they grow larger
divergent boundary- A boundary where crustal plates move away from each other
DNA- A complex chemical that contains information about every part of an organism
dominant trait- A strong trait
E
earthquake- A shaking of the ground caused by the sudden release of energy in Earth's crust
eclipse- The passing of one object through the shadow of another
ecosystem- A community and its physical environment together
electric charge- The charge obtained by an object when it gains or loses electrons
electric circuit- The path along which electrons can flow
electric current- The flow of electrons from negatively charged objects to positively charged objects
electric force- The attraction or repulsion of objects due to their charges
electromagnet- A temporary magnet made by passing electric current through a wire coiled around an iron bar
electromagnetic waves- A wave of vibrating electric and magnetic fields
electron- A subatomic particle with a negative charge
element- A substance made up of only one kind of atom
El Niño- A short-term climate change that occurs every two to ten years
ellipse- An oval-shaped path
embryo- The tiny plant inside a seed
endangered- A population of organisms that is likely to become extinct if steps are not taken to save it
endoskeleton- A system of connected bones or plates that lie within the body of an organism
energy- The ability to cause changes in matter
energy pyramid- Shows the amount of energy available to pass from one level of a food chain to the next
epidermis- The outer layer of cells of a leaf
equinox- Point in Earth's orbit at which the hours of daylight and darkness are equal
erosion- The process of moving sediment from one place to another
estuary- The place where a freshwater river empties into an ocean
evaporation- The process by which a liquid changes into a gas
exoskeleton- A skeleton that is outside of the body of an invertebrate
exotic- An imported or nonnative organism
extinct- No longer in existence; the result when the last individual of a population dies and that organism is gone forever
F
fault- A break or place where pieces of Earth's crust move
fertilization- The joining of a male reproductive cell with a female reproductive cell
fiber- Any material that can be separated into threads
fish- Vertebrates that live their entire life in water
food chain- The ways in which the organisms in an ecosystem interact with one another according to what they eat
food web- Shows the interactions among many different food chains in a single ecosystem
force- A push or pull that causes an object to move, stop, or change direction
fossil- The remains or traces of past life found in sedimentary rock
fossil fuel- A fuel formed from the remains of once-living organisms
friction- A force that opposes, or acts against, motion when two surfaces rub against each other
front- The boundary between air masses
fungi- Living things that look like plants but cannot make their own food; example, mushrooms
fusion energy- The energy released when the nuclei of two atoms are forced together to form a larger nucleus
G
galaxy- A group of stars, gas, and dust
gas- The state of matter that does not have a definite shape or volume
gene- The DNA codes on chromosomes that contain all the traits an organism inherits
genus- The second-smallest name grouping used in classification
geothermal energy- Heat from inside the Earth
germinate- The sprouting of a seed
global warming- The hypothesized rise in Earth's average temperature from excess carbon dioxide
grafting- A form of artificial reproduction that can produce desirable characteristics in woody plants
grain- The seed of certain plants
grassland- A biome where the dominant plants are grasses
gravitation- The force that pulls all objects in the universe toward one another
gravitropism- A plant's response to gravity
greenhouse effect- Process by which the Earth's atmosphere absorbs heat
groundwater- Water that soaks into the ground
gymnosperm- Plants with unprotected seeds; conifers or cone-bearing plants
H
habitat- A place in an ecosystem where a population lives
hardness- A mineral's ability to resist being scratched
headland- A hard, rocky point of land left when softer rock is washed away by the sea
heat- The transfer of thermal energy form one substance to another
humidity- A measure of the amount of water in the air
hydroelectric energy- Electricity generated from the force of moving water
I
igneous rock- A type of rock that forms when melted rock hardens
inclined plane- A flat, sloping surface
individual- A single organism in an environment
inertia- The property of matter that keeps it moving in a straight line or keeps it at rest
inherited trait- A characteristic that is passed from parent to offspring
insect- An arthropod with six jointed legs, such as a grasshopper
instinct- A behavior that an organism inherits
insulator- A material that does not carry electrons
intertidal zone- An area where the tide and churning waves provide a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to living organisms
invertebrates- Animals without a backbone
J
jetty- A wall-like structure made of rocks that sticks out into the ocean
joints- A place where bones meet and are attached to each other and to muscles
K
kinetic energy- The energy of motion, or energy in use
kingdom- The largest group into which living things can be classified
L
landform- A physical feature on Earth's surface
lava- Magma that reaches the Earth's surface
law of universal gravitation- Law that states that all objects in the universe are attracted to all other objects
learned behavior- A behavior an animal learns from its parents
lens- A piece of clear material that bends, or refracts, light rays passing through it
lever- A simple machine having an arm that moves about a fixed point
life cycle- The series of distinct stages of life that most organisms grow and mature through
ligaments- One of the bands of connective tissue that hold a skeleton together
light-year- The distance light travels in one Earth year; about 9.5 trillion km
lignite- A soft, brown rock; the second stage of coal formation
liquid- The state of matter that has a definite volume but no definite shape
local winds- The winds dependent upon local changes in temperature
lunar eclipse- The hiding of the moon when it passes through the Earth's shadow
luster- The way the surface of a mineral reflects light
M
machine- Something that makes work seem easier by changing the size or the direction of a force
magma- A hot, soft rock from Earth's lower mantle
magnetism- The force of repulsion (pushing) or attraction (pulling) between poles of magnets
magnitude- Brightness of stars
main sequence- A band of stars that include most stars of average color, size, magnitude, and temperature
mammal- A warm-blooded vertebrate that has milk-producing glands
mammals- Animals that have hair and produce milk for their young
mantle- The layer of rock beneath Earth's crust
mass- The amount of matter in an object
mass movement- The downhill movement of rock and soil because of gravity
matter- Anything that has mass and takes up space
meiosis- The process that reduces the number of chromosomes in reproductive cells
metamorphic rock- A type of rock changed by heat or pressure but not completely melted
metamorphosis- A change in the shape or characteristics of an organism's body as it grows
meteoroid- A chunk of material smaller than an asteroid that orbits the sun
microclimate- The climate of a very small area
mid-ocean ridge- Where plates of the Earth's crust along the ocean floor are being split apart and molten rock pushes up to form
new ocean floor and a mountain range
mimicry- An animal's imitation of another animal or of an object in order to avoid predators
mineral- A natural, solid material with particles arranged in a repeating pattern
mitosis- The process of cell division
mixture -A combination of two or more pure substances that are not chemically combined with each other
molecule- A grouping of two or more atoms joined together
momentum- A measure of how hard it is to slow down or stop an object
moneran- The kingdom of classification for organisms that have only one cell and no nucleus
motion- A change in position
mutualism- The symbiotic relationship that benefits both organisms involved
N
natural gas- A gas, methane, usually found with petroleum
natural resource- Any of the useful minerals and other materials that people take from the Earth
near-shore zone- The area beyond the breaking waves that extends to waters that are about 180 m deep
nephrons- One of the tubes inside the kidneys where urea and water diffuse from the blood
net force- The result of two or more forces acting together on an object
neuron- A specialized cell that can receive information and transmit it to other cells
neutron- A subatomic particle with no charge
Newton- The metric unit for forces including weight
niche- The role each population has in its habitat
nitrogen cycle- The cycle in which nitrogen gas is changed into forms of nitrogen that plants can use
nodules- small bumps on the roots of certain plants that “fix” nitrogen in the soil
nonrenewable resource- A resource that cannot be readily replaced once it is used
nonvascular- Not having xylem and phloem; said of some plants
nonvascular plants- Plants that do not have tubes
nuclear energy- The energy released when the nucleus of an atom is split apart
nucleus (atom)- The center of an atom
nucleus (cell)- The organelle that controls all of a cell's activities
nucleus (cell)- The control center of the cell it directs all the cell's activities
O
observation- gathering information using our senses
omnivore- An animal that eats both plants and other animals
open-ocean zone- The area that includes most deep ocean waters; most organisms live near the surface
orbit- The path one body in space takes as it revolves around another body; such as Earth as it revolves around the sun
organ- Tissues that work together to perform a specific function
osmosis- The diffusion of water and dissolved materials through cell membranes
ovary- The portion of a flower, at the base of the pistil, that contains the eggs
palisade layer- The layer of cells in a leaf where most photosynthesis occurs
P
Pangea- A supercontinent containing all of Earth's land that existed about 225 million years ago
parasite- An organism that survives by living on or in another animal and feeding on that animal
parasitism- A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other organism is harmed
peat- A soft, brown material made up of partly decayed plants; first stage of coal formation
periodic table- The table of elements in order of increasing atomic number; grouped by similar properties
perspiration- moister that is given off through pores in the skins of animals
petal- The part of the plant that is usually the largest and most visible part of a flower and helps protect the other parts of the flower
phase- A stage in the changing shape the moon seems to have when it is viewed from Earth
phloem- The tubes that transport food in the vascular plants
photosphere- The visible surface of the sun
photosynthesis- The process by which plants make food
phototropism- A plant's response to light
physical properties- The characteristics of a substance that can be observed or measured without changing the substance
pioneer plants- The first plants to invade a bare area
pistil- The female part of a flower
pitch- An element of sound determined by the speed which sound waves move
planets- Large, round bodies that revolve around a star
planetary system- A system of planets revolving around a star
plate- The rigid blocks of crust and upper mantle rock
plate tectonics- The theory scientists use to explain the movements of plates on the Earth's surface
pollen- Flower structures that contain the male reproductive cells
pollination- The process by which pollen from the anthers of a flower land on the stigma of a flower
pollution- Waste products that damage an ecosystem
population- All the individuals of the same kind living in the same environment
position- An object's place, or location
potential energy- The energy an object has because of its place or its condition
power- The amount of work done for each unit of time
precaution- something that is done to prevent an accident
precipitation- Any form of water that falls from clouds; such as rain or snow
predator- An animal that feeds on other living animals
prevailing winds- The global winds that blow constantly from the same direction
prey- The animals predators eat
prism- A solid object that bends light
producer- Organisms that make their own food
protest- The kingdom of classification for organisms that have only one cell and also have a nucleus, or cell control center
proton- A subatomic particle with a positive charge
pulley- A wheel that has a groove along its edge
R
radiation- The transfer of thermal energy by electromagnetic waves
reaction force- The force that pushes or pulls back in the third law of motion
reactivity- The ability of a substance to go through a chemical changereceptors- Nerve cells that detect conditions in the body's environment
recessive trait- A weak trait
reclamation- The process of restoring a damaged ecosystem
recycle- Recovering a resource from an item and using the recovered resource to make a new item
recycling- The process of taking a resource from a product and making it into a new product
reduce- To cut down on the use of resources
reflection- The light energy that bounces off objects
refraction- The bending of light rays when they pass through a substance
renewable resources- Resources that are replaced as they are used
reptiles- Animals that have dry, scaly skin
resistor- A material that resists the flow of electrons in some way
respiration- The process that releases energy from food
respiration- glucose combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water releasing energy
reusable resources- Natural resources that are renewed by natural cycles and can be used more than once; inexhaustible resources
reuse- To use items again; some times for a different purposerevolve- The closed path an object such as the Earth makes as it moves around another object
revolution- The movement of one object in an orbit around another object
rock- A material made up of one or more minerals
rock cycle- The slow, never-ending process of rock changes
root- The part of a plant that holds the plant in the ground and takes in water and minerals from the soil
rotate- The spinning of Earth on its axis
rotation- The turning of an object on an axis
S
salinity- Saltiness of the ocean
satellite- A natural body, like the moon, or an artificial object that orbits another object
scavenger- An animal that eats the remains of animals that have died
scientific method- a collection of steps used to explore questions and investigate the natural world
screw- An inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder or cone
scuba- Underwater breathing equipment; the letters stand for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus
sea-floor spreading- A process in which magma is slowly pushed up through cracks in a rift and then cools to form new sea floor
season- A period of the year with a certain level of temperature and type of weather
sedimentation- The process of building up layers of sediment over millions of years
sedimentary rock- A type of rock formed by layers of sediments that were squeezed and stuck together over a long time
seedling- The stage when a germinated seed begins growing and making its own food
sexual reproduction- The form of reproduction in which cells from two parents unite to form a zygote
shore- The area where the ocean and land meet and interact
solar eclipse- The hiding of the sun that occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth
solar energy- The energy of sunlight
solar flare- A brief burst of energy from the sun's photosphere
solar system- The sun, and the objects that orbit around it
solar wind- A fast-moving stream of particles thrown into space by solar flares
solid- The state of matter that has a definite shape and a definite volume
solstice- Point in Earth's orbit at which the hours of daylight are at their greatest or fewest
solubility- The ability of one substance to be dissolved in another substance
solution- A mixture in which the particles of each substance are mixed evenly
sonar- A device that uses sound waves to determine water depth
space probe- A robot vehicle used to explore deep space
species- The smallest name grouping used in classification
speed- A measure of the distance an object moves in a given amount of time
spore- A single reproductive cell that grows into a new plant
stamen- The male part of a flower
star- A hot ball of glowing gases, like our sun
stem- A plant part that connects the roots with the leaves of a plant and supports the plant above ground; it carries water from the
roots to other parts of the plant
streak- The color of the powder left behind when you rub a mineral against a white tile called a streak plate
submersible- An underwater vehicle
succession- A gradual change in an ecosystem, sometimes occurring over hundreds of years
sunspot- A dark spot on the photosphere of the sun
suspension- A mixture that contains particles that are large enough to be seen and can be separated from the mixture by using filter
paper
symbiosis- A long-term relationship between different kinds of organisms
system- Organs that work together to perform a function
T
taiga- A biome where winters are very cold and long and the dominant plants are conifers
telescope- An instrument that magnifies distant objects, or makes them appear larger
temperature- The average kinetic energy of all the molecules in an object
tendons- Tough bands of connective tissue that attach muscles to bones
theory- an explanation of why something happens in nature
thermometer- A tool used to measure temperature
threatened- Describes a population of organisms that are likely to become endangered if they are not protected
tidal energy- A form of hydroelectric energy that produces electricity from the rising and falling of tides
tide- The repeated rise and fall in the level of the ocean
tide pool- A pool of seawater found along a rocky shoreline
tissue- Cells that work together to perform a specific function
tissue culture- Process that grows plants artificially in laboratories
topsoil- The top layer of soil made up of the smallest grains and the most humus
transpiration- The process in which plants give off water through their stomata
tropical rain forest- A hot, wet forest where the trees grow very tall and their leaves stay green all year
tropism- A plant's response to a stimulus
U
unbalanced forces- Forces that are not equal
universe- Everything that exists—planets, stars, dust, gases, and energy
V
variable- the characteristic that is tested during an experiment
vascular- Plants with xylem and phloem
vascular plants- Plants that have tubes
vegetative propagation- A form of asexual reproduction; without seeds
velocity- An object's speed in a particular direction
vertebrates- Animals with a backbone
vibrate- To move quickly back and forth, producing sound
villi- The tiny tubes sticking into the small intestine
volcano- A mountain formed by lava and ash
volume (measurement)- The amount of space that an object takes up
volume (sound)- The loudness of a sound
W
warm-blooded- An animal whose body stays the same temperature regardless of the temperature of its surroundings
water cycle- The cycle in which Earth's water moves through the environment
water pressure- The weight of water pressing on an object
wave- The up-and-down movement of surface water
weathering- The process of breaking rock into soil, sand, and other tiny pieces
wedge- A simple machine composed of one or two inclined planes
weight- A measure of the pull of gravity on an object
wetlands- The water ecosystems that include saltwater marshes, mangrove swamps, and mud flats
wheel and axle- A simple machine that has a central pivot around which a wheel moves
work- The use of a force to move an object through a distance
X
xylem- The tubes that transport water and minerals in vascular plants
Other vocabulary words may be added later.
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