Critical Science Vocabulary
Unit Two
4 TH G R A D E S C I E N C E
MRS. HOLLY BENEDETTO
STUDENT NAME ______________________
Science Inquiry Strand
Line Graph
Volume
Microscope
Conclusion
Dependent Variable
Observation
Line Graph
Definition
Example
 A line graph is a graph
 The following is a
that uses points
connected by line
segments to show
change in value over
time.
picture of a line graph.
Answer the following questions about the line graph.
 How many push-ups
were done on Sunday?
 How many more pushups were done on
Saturday than Sunday?
 How many push-ups
were done altogether
throughout the week?
Volume
Definition
Example
 Volume is the amount
 Volume of a regular
of space an object takes
up.
 We can measure volume in
gallons, but the scientific unit
for volume is Liters.
solid is calculated by
multiplying length x
width x height.
Microscope
Definition
Example
 A microscope is a
 Plant cells
scientific tool that is
used to see very small
objects, such as cells.
 Animal cells
 Doctors can even
compare normal cells to
cancer cells.
Conclusion
Definition
Example
 An conclusion is the
 Based on the results of
final outcome to an
experiment after the
experiment is
completed.
all of my diagnostics,
my conclusion is that
my students are all
awesome! 
Conclusion
What conclusion can
you draw about the
results of this
experiment?
Dependent Variable
Definition
Example
 A dependent variable
 The dependent variable
changes as the result of
an experiment.
in this experiment was
 Plant
Growth
Observation
Definition
Example
 An observation is the
 When I go to my
use of any of the 5
senses to gain
information.
parents’ house for
dinner, I usually can
tell what they are
cooking by observing
the smell of the food.
Physical Science Strand
Freezing Point
Conductor
Motion
Potential Energy
Freezing Point
Definition
Example
 The freezing point of a
 In some places, whole
substance is the
temperature at which a
liquid becomes a solid.
waterfalls can freeze
when they reach their
freezing point.
Conductor
Definition
Example
 A conductor is any
 Electricians use
material that readily
transmits heat or
electricity.
conductors inside of
wires to allow
electricity to flow
through.
Motion
Definition
Example
 Motion is a change in
 There is no motion
position or direction of
an object.
when you are sitting
completely still.
Potential Energy
Definition
Example
 Potential energy is
 The higher an object is,
energy that is stored.
the more potential
energy it has.
Earth and Space Science Strand
Topsoil
Mineral
Climate
Humidity
Topsoil
Definition
 Topsoil is the thin top
layer of soil where most
nutrients for plants are
found.
Example
Mineral
Definition
Example
 A mineral is a natural,
 You usually can see
inorganic substance
that makes up rocks.
different colors in
many rocks because of
the presence of
different types of
minerals.
Climate
Definition
Example
 Climate is the regular
pattern of temperature
and rainfall in a given
region over time.
Hotter climate zones are
closer to the Equator.
Humidity
Definition
Example
 Humidity is the
 When you can feel
measurement of how
much water vapor is in
the air.
moisture in the air,
that is humidity. When
humidity is high, it is
likely that it will also
rain.
Life Science Strand
Science & The Environment Strand
Invertebrate
Larva
Desert
Organ
Habitat Loss
Consumer
Community
Invertebrate
Definition
Example
 An invertebrate is an
 Squids, earthworms, and
animal without a
backbone.
insects are some examples
of invertebrates.
Larva
Definition
Example
 A larva is a newly
 A caterpillar is the larva of a
hatched, wingless,
often worm-like stage
of insect development
before its
metamorphosis into an
adult.
butterfly. A maggot is the larva
of a fly.
Desert
Definition
Example
 A desert is ecosystem
 The Sahara is the
categorized by a hot,
dry climate with little
vegetation (plants).
largest desert in the
world.
Organ
Definition
Example
 An organ is a part of an
 The brain, heart, bones, lungs,
organism that is made
up of many tissues
working together for a
specific function.
and kidneys are examples of
organs. There are many, many
more in the human body.
Habitat Loss
Definition
Example
 Habitat loss is the process
 When trees are cut
by which a natural habitat
is damaged or destroyed
to an extent that it can no
longer support the species
that live there.
down in forests, many
animals can lose their
homes. This is called
habitat loss.
Consumer
Definition
Example
 A consumer is any
 All of the organisms in
organism that must eat
other organisms to
obtain energy.
the food chain below
are consumers except
the flower and grass.
Community
Definition
Example
 A community is all the
 A community is not
populations of
different organisms
living together in the
same ecosystem.
just the population of
one kind of organism,
but all of them.
Day One: Science Inquiry Vocabulary
Term
Line Graph
Volume
Microscope
Conclusion
Dependent Variable
Observation
Definition
Day One: Science Inquiry Vocabulary
Question
What is a graph that uses points connected by line
segments to show change in value over time?
What is the amount of space an object takes up?
What is a scientific tool that is used to see very small
objects, such as cells?
What is the final outcome to an experiment after the
experiment is completed?
What changes as the result of an experiment?
What is the use of any of the 5 senses to gain information?
Answer
Day Two: Physical Science and
Earth and Space Science Vocabulary
Term
Freezing Point
Conductor
Motion
Potential Energy
Topsoil
Mineral
Climate
Humidity
Definition
Day Two: Physical Science and
Earth and Space Science Vocabulary
Question
What is the temperature at which a liquid becomes a solid?
What is any material that readily transmits heat or electricity?
What is a change in position or direction of an object?
What is energy that is stored?
What is the thin top layer of soil where most nutrients for plants
are found?
What is a natural, inorganic substance that makes up rocks?
What is the regular pattern of temperature and rainfall in a given
region over time?
What is the measurement of how much water vapor is in the air?
Answer
Day Three: Life Science Vocabulary and
Science and the Environment
Term
Invertebrate
Larva
Desert
Organ
Habitat Loss
Consumer
Community
Definition
Day Three: Life Science Vocabulary and
Science and the Environment
Question
What is an animal without a backbone?
What is a newly hatched, wingless, often worm-like stage
of insect development before its metamorphosis into an
adult?
What is ecosystem categorized by a hot, dry climate with
little vegetation?
What is a part of an organism that is made up of many
tissues working together for a specific function?
What is the process by which a natural habitat is damaged
or destroyed to an extent that it can no longer support the
species that live there?
What is any organism that must eat other organisms to
obtain energy?
What is all the populations of different organisms living
together in the same ecosystem?
Answer