Science K-5 Essential Vocabulary
Students in grades Pre-K through 5 should become fluent with inquiry and application
terms used commonly in writing and speaking during the Earth/Space Science, Life
Science and Physical Science Units. These terms are not limited to, but include the
following:
Analyze
Control
Data
Design
Observations
Proof
Investigate
Safety
Connect
Compare
Problem solve
Classify
Explain
Communicate
Experiment
Infer
Hypothesize
Predict
Conduct
Interpret
Measure
Conclude
Reasoning
Variables
Kindergarten students should become familiar with vocabulary commonly used
throughout scientific reading, writing and inquiry activities. Students should become
fluent with common Earth/Space, Physical Science and Life Science terms by
participating in a variety of strategies including but not limited to: Word Walls, Spelling
lists, Science notebooks, graphic organizers and games such as Pictionary.
Unit 1: Earth and Space Science Vocabulary
Weather
Rainy
Snowy
Thermometer
Sunny
Rain gauge
Summer
Fall/autumn
Winter
Temperature
Precipitation
Day
Earth
Planet
Sun
Sky
Star
Clouds
Phases
Seasons
East
Windy
Wind gauge
Spring
Night
Moon
Shadow
West
Unit 2: Life Science Vocabulary
Living
Nonliving
Differences
Real
Interact
Traits
Survival
Habitat
Native
Resources
Characteristics
Pretend
Behaviors
Shelter
Protection
Similarities
Environment
Species
Pollination
Unit 3: Physical Science Vocabulary
Sort
Properties
Size
Odor
Group
Longer
Lighter
Vibrations
Volume
Instrument
Color
Texture
Shorter
Sound
Wave
Shape
Flexibility
Heavier
Pitch
Energy
K-5 Essential Vocabulary
March 1, 2014
1
First Grade students should become familiar with vocabulary commonly used
throughout scientific reading, writing and inquiry activities. Students should become
fluent with common Earth/Space, Physical Science and Life Science terms by
participating in a variety of strategies including but not limited to: Word Walls, Spelling
lists, Science notebooks/journals, graphic organizers and games such as Pictionary.
Unit 1: Earth and Space Science Vocabulary
Energy
Light
Solar energy
Temperature
Exposure
Heat
Absorb
Liquid
Solid
Gas
Ice
Water
Precipitation
Erosion
Fresh water
Ocean
River
Stream
Lake
Wetland
Weathering
Unit 2: Life Science Vocabulary
Living
Non-living
Needs
Obtain
Survival
Environment
Hibernation
Resources
Unit 3: Physical Science Vocabulary
Properties
Freezing
Burning
Force
Pull
Liquid
Float
Sink
Straight
Incline
Position
Energy
Soil
Sun
Physical properties
Water vapor
Salt water
Pond
Food
Consume
Grow
Organism
Shelter
Habitat
Migration
Adaptations
Melting
Motion
Ramp
Zigzag
Circular
Tearing
Push
Material
Direction
Back and forth
Second Grade students should become familiar with vocabulary commonly used
throughout scientific reading, writing and inquiry activities. Students should become
fluent with common Earth/Space, Physical Science and Life Science terms by
participating in a variety of strategies including but not limited to: Word Walls, Spelling
lists, Science notebooks/journals, graphic organizers and games such as Pictionary.
Unit 1: Earth Space Science Vocabulary
Air
Mass
Evaporation
Barometer
Wind
Cold front
Direction
Speed
Lake-effect
Forecast
Atmosphere
Precipitation
Warm front
Tornado
Fog
K-5 Essential Vocabulary
March 1, 2014
Air pressure
Volume
Condensation
Hurricane
Hail
2
Unit 2: Life Science Vocabulary
Ecosystem
Biotic
Adaptation
Impact
Extinct
Fossil
Meadow
Woodland
Biome
Shelter
Predator
Prey
Abiotic
Soil
Abundant
Oxygen
Survive
Pollution
Interactions
Nutrients
Wetland
Extinct
Behavior
Food chain
Unit 3: Physical Science Vocabulary
Force
Position
Weight
Mass
Attract
Repel
Background
Static electricity
Motion
Gravity
Friction
Stationary
Speed
Magnets
Distance
Third Grade students should become familiar with vocabulary commonly used
throughout scientific reading, writing and inquiry activities. Students should become
fluent with common Earth/Space, Physical Science and Life Science terms by
participating in a variety of strategies including but not limited to: Word Walls, Spelling
lists, Science notebooks/journals, graphic organizers and games such as Pictionary.
Unit 1: Earth and Space Vocabulary
Resources
Abiotic
Dichotomous key
Composition
Erosion
Renewable
Solar energy
Hydrologic energy
Recycling
Porous
Unit 2: Life Science Vocabulary
Appearance
Behaviors
Structures
Survival
Generation
Life cycle
Reproduce
Variation
Population
Environmental
stimuli
Biotic
Sedimentation
Nonrenewable
Efficiency
Energy
Soil
Siltation
Wind energy
Conservation
Function
Traits
Mature
Resemble
Inherit
Organism
Environment
Offspring
Features
Adaptation
K-5 Essential Vocabulary
March 1, 2014
3
Unit 3: Physical Science Vocabulary
Matter
Mass
Liquid
Gas
Properties
Substance
Compressibility
Volume
Electrical energy
Light energy
Motion
Uncharged objects
Weight
Volume
Beaker
Phase change
Sound energy
Charged objects
Solid
Gravity
Graduated cylinder
Heat energy
Magnetic energy
Motion
Fourth Grade students should become familiar with vocabulary commonly used
throughout scientific reading, writing and inquiry activities. Students should become
fluent with common Earth/Space, Physical Science and Life Science terms by
participating in a variety of strategies including but not limited to: Word Walls, Spelling
lists, Science notebooks/journals, graphic organizers and games such as Pictionary.
Unit 1: Earth and Space Science Vocabulary
Freshwater
Salt water
Landform
Deposition
Erosion
Weathering
Constructive
Glaciers
Mountains
process
Mudslides
Avalanche
Landslide
Volcanoes
Plate tectonics
Geologic cross
sections
Unit 2: Life Science Vocabulary
Abiotic
Biotic
Population
Resources
Organism
Habitat
Fossil
Extinct
Unit 3: Physical Science Vocabulary
Conservation of
Constant
matter
Dissolving
Evaporation
Gas
Phase change
Conductor
Energy
Electricity
Magnetism
Electrical circuit
Energy transfer
Forms of energy
(see third grade)
Conduction
Topographic map
Destructive process
Sediment
Earthquakes
Ecosystem
Climate
Endangered
Cast (how fossils
are made)
Migration
Impact
Survival
Mass
Matter
Solid
Property
Insulator
Electrical
conductivity
Insulator
Liquid
Volume
Transformation
Flow of electricity
Temperature
Convection
K-5 Essential Vocabulary
March 1, 2014
4
Fifth Grade students should become familiar with vocabulary commonly used
throughout scientific reading, writing and inquiry activities. Students should become
fluent with common Earth/Space, Physical Science and Life Science terms by
participating in a variety of strategies including but not limited to: Word Walls, Spelling
lists, Science notebooks/journals, graphic organizers and games such as Pictionary.
Unit 1: Earth and Space Science Vocabulary
Solar system
Universe
Astronomy
Celestial body
Orbit
Moon
Rotation
Axis
Sun
Blue giant
Climate
Equator
Hemispheres
Moon phases
Revolve
Tilt
Tornado
Tropical cyclone
Hurricane
Atmosphere
Constellations
Comet
Meteor
Meteoroid
Unit 2: Life Science Vocabulary
Niche
Carnivore
Decomposer
Ecosystem
Food web
Herbivore
Organism
Parasitism
Producer
Species
Invasive species
Endangered
Unit 3: Physical Science Vocabulary
Light energy
Sound energy
Refraction
Reflection
Emit
Concave
Mass
Force
Magnetism
Weight
Direction
Distance
Planet
Telescope
Red dwarf
Elliptical
Seasons
Typhoon
Asteroid
Commensalism
Energy flow
Mutualism
Photosynthesis
Variety
Energy transfer
Consumer
Food chain
Omnivore
Predator/prey
Symbiotic
Environmental
impact
Vibration
Medium
Convex
Friction
Motion
Pitch
Absorb
Prism
Gravity
Speed
K-5 Essential Vocabulary
March 1, 2014
5