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Science is a rich content area for
developing language concepts and vocabulary. While conducting FOSS
investigations,
students are involved in observing properties, comparing and organizing their
observations, and identifying relationships from their observations. In order
to effectively communicate the results of their investigations, it
is important
to use concise and appropriate vocabulary. Students need to develop a sound
vocabulary that will serve them in science and life. Some of the vocabulary is introduced and reviewed with students in the Wrapping Up section of the investigation folio in the Teacher Guide. These are listed below and identified with the abbreviation TG. Additional words are introduced and included FOSS Science Stories glossary. These words are identified with the abbreviation SS. Click here to get the Spanish version of this glossary. Click either of the links below for the list of terms and their definitions.
In the course of the investigations, students are encouraged to learn and use the following vocabulary: |
| Investigation 1: Water Observations | |
| Absorb | |
| Bead | |
| Dome | |
| Flow | |
| Property | |
| Slope | |
| Surface tension | |
| Water | |
| Investigation 2: Hot Water, Cold Water | |
| Contract | |
| Denser | |
| Expand | |
| Float | |
| Less dense | |
| Sink | |
| Investigation 3: Water Vapor | |
| Condense | |
| Evaporate | |
| Seriate | |
| Surface area | |
| Thermometer | |
| Water cycle | |
| Water vapor | |
| Investigation 4: Waterworks | |
| Blade | |
| Dissolve | |
| Drain | |
| Earth materials | |
| Shaft | |
| Soak | |
| Water quality | |
| Investigation 1: Water Observations | |
| Algae | Melt |
| Freeze | Slope |
| Gas | Solid |
| Gravity | Surface tension |
| Ice | Water |
| Iceberg | |
| Liquid | |
| Matter | |
| Investigation 2: Hot Water, Cold Water | |
| Glacier | |
| Molecule | |
| Investigation 3: Water Vapor | |
| Condensation | |
| Cycle | |
| Evaporation | |
| Water vapor | |
| Investigation 4: Waterworks | |
| Dissolve | |
| Flash flood | |
| Storm surge | |
| Water quality | |
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Absorb When a liquid soaks into a material. (TG) |
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Algae Any of a large group of mostly aquatic organisms that contain the green pigment chlorophyll but lack veins. (SS) |
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Bead When a liquid sits on top of a material in drops. (TG) |
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Blade The part of a waterwheel that the water pushes as it moves downward. (TG) |
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Condensation The process by which water vapor changes into liquid water, usually on a surface. (SS) |
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Condense When water vapor touches a cool surface and becomes liquid water. (TG) |
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Contract To get smaller; to take up less space. (TG) |
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Cycle A process or action that repeats itself in the same order over time. (SS) |
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Denser When an object sinks in water, it is denser than water. (TG) |
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Dissolve To break down into particles so small when mixed with water that a substance seems to disappear. (SS, TG) |
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Dome The shape a drop of water takes when it is on a flat surface. It is like a flattened hemisphere. (TG) |
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Drain To make or become gradually dry or empty. (TG) |
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Earth materials Any substance that makes up or comes from the earth. (TG) |
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Evaporate When water in a material dries up and goes into the air. (TG) |
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Evaporation The process by which liquid water changes into water vapor. (SS) |
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Expand To get bigger; to take up more space. (TG) |
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Flash flood A sudden flow of water over the land. Flash floods usually occur within a few minutes or hours of excessive rainfall. (SS) |
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Float To stay on the surface of water as a result of being less dense than water. (TG) |
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Flow The movement of liquid over a surface. (TG) |
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Freeze To change from a liquid to a solid state as a result of cooling. (SS) |
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Gas A state of a substance with no definite shape or volume; usually invisible. (SS) |
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Glacier A large mass of ice moving slowly over land. (SS) |
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Gravity The natural force that pulls objects toward each other. On Earth, all objects are pulled toward the center of the Earth. (SS) |
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Ice The solid state of water. (SS) |
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Iceberg A large mass of ice that has become detached from a glacier and floats in the ocean. (SS) |
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Less dense When an object floats in water, it is less dense than water. (TG) |
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Liquid A state of a substance with no definite shape but a definite volume. (SS) |
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Matter Anything that has mass. (SS) |
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Melt To change from a solid to a liquid state as a result of warming. (SS) |
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Molecule The smallest part of a substance that is made up of two or more atoms. (SS) |
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Property A characteristic of a material or an object, something that you can observe such as color, smell, and taste. (TG) |
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Seriate To put objects in order by one property. (TG) |
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Shaft The part of a waterwheel that the blades turn. (TG) |
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Sink To go under water as a result of being denser than water. (TG) |
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Slope A slanted or tilted surface. (TG, SS) |
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Soak To be absorbed or move into another material. (TG) |
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Solid A state of a substance with a definite shape and volume. (SS) |
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Storm surge Water pushed ahead of a storm like snow before a shovel. Water piles up along a coast, rushing toward land faster than it can return to sea. (SS) |
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Surface area The area of liquid exposed to or touching the air. (TG) |
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Surface tension The skinlike surface on water (and other liquids) that pulls it together into the smallest possible volume (a sphere). (TG, SS) |
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Thermometer A tool used to measure temperature. (TG) |
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Water A liquid earth material made of hydrogen and oxygen. (SS, TG) |
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Water cycle The sequence of condensation and evaporation of water on Earth, causing clouds and rain and other forms of precipitation. (TG) |
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Water quality A term used to describe the purity of water. (TG, SS) |
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Water vapor The gaseous state of water. (SS, TG) |
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