Earth Science Vocabulary Words
Due each unit on the day of the Test
Unit 1: Experimental Design – Create vocabulary flash cards for each of the vocabulary
words. Be sure to include the word and a picture on the front as well as the definition on
the back. Flash card paper will be provided or you can use your own.
Standardized units
Controlled experiment
Independent Variable
Scientific Method
Hypothesis
Procedure
Controlled Variables
Exponential Relationship
Conclusion
Two-Coordinate Graph
Interval
“Y” axis
Direct Relationship
Variable
Dependent Variable
Question
Materials
Results
Data
Title
“X” axis
Inverse Relationship
Unit 2A: Heat and Temperature – Create a comic strip including all vocabulary words.
The comic should tell a story and not just list definitions to the vocabulary. Color and
neatness will count.
Temperature
Heat
Fahrenheit
Celsius
Thermal Equilibrium
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
Insulator
Conductor
Specific Heat
Heat Sink
Absorption
Climate
Unit 2B: Earth as a Changing System – Create a crossword puzzle for 25 vocabulary
words. A blank puzzle, clues, and answer key must be included.
Crust
Mantle
Outer core
Inner core
Continental drift
Pangaea
Plate tectonics
Plates (crustal plates)
Convection current
Divergent boundaries
Sea floor spreading
Convergent boundaries
Igneous rock
Subduction
Transform fault boundaries
Mineral
Rock cycle
Sedimentary rock
Weathering
Physical weathering
Chemical weathering
Erosion
Compaction
Sediments
Cementation
Metamorphic rock
Fossil
Mold
Cast
Imprint
Petrification
Preservation
Geologic time scale
Evolution
Luster
Streak
Hardness
Color
Unit 3A: Hydrologic Cycle – Create a poster explaining the hydrologic cycle. Be sure to
include all vocabulary words. Your poster should act as an advertisement for water
conservation.
Aquifer
Glacier
Pores
Condensation
Groundwater
Precipitation
Distribution
Hydrologic cycle
Surface water
Erosion
Impermeable
Water table
Evaporation
Permeability
Water vapor
Filtration
Transpiration
Unit 3B: Atmosphere and Weather - Watch the weather on the news/weather channel and
describe the weather for 10 days. Your description must include relative humidity, air
pressure, any fronts and pressure systems coming in and the weather they will bring.
Air mass
Elevation
Pressure system
Air pressure
Exosphere
Psychrometer
Altitude
Front
Relative humidity
Anemometer
High pressure system
Saturated
Atmosphere
Humidity
Stratosphere
Barometer
Hurricane
Thermosphere
Climate
Low pressure system
Thunderstorm
Cold front
Mesosphere
Tornado
Dense
Ozone layer
Troposphere
Density
Warm front
Unit 4: Solar System – Create a four fold table for all vocabulary words. Tables should
include the following the word, definition, a sentence using the word, and a picture.
Rotation
Revolution
Orbit
Axis
Tilt
Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Capricorn
Seasons
Phases of the moon
Eclipse
Lunar eclipse
Solar eclipse
Tides
Spring tide
Neap tide
Galaxy
Universe
Spiral
Elliptical
Irregular
Solar system
Sun
Gravity
Inertia
Periodic