High Incidence Academic Vocabulary

Academic English Testing Vocabulary List | NO EXCUSES WORDS! 

High-Frequency ELA English Academic Testing Vocabulary

Kid-Friendly Glossary & Examples

(Tier 2) Level One Must Know Words

analyze

To study something carefully in order to understand it or learn more about it.

"Elise needed to analyze the test question  -  What exactly was the question asking for?"

approach

To move closer to someone or something.

"Mr. Kyes will approach Mr. Taylor to ask if Damian is at grade level."

area

The measurement of the surface inside the boundaries of something (square units) .

"Mrs. Garcia's kitchen wall was eight feet high and ten feet wide;  to paint this wall she needed a can of paint to cover an area of eighty square feet.

assess

To judge or figure out the value of something, both good and bad values.

"The coach had to assess his players to decide which one would play first base."

assume

To suppose that something is true without checking first. "Ellie assumed that she would get a high score on her math test without studying, but her score was low...

authority

The right or power to make rules and see that the rules are followed. "Mr. Taylor has authority in his class;  the Fire Department has authority at a fire scene."

available

Able to be used or gotten. "The last Harry Potter movie should be really exciting, but it's not available yet."

benefit

Something that helps good to happen.

"Suzette was great at playing soccer;  a real benefit to her team!"

concept

An idea or thought. " 'Is that your concept of fair play?' shouted the coach when Elton intentionally tripped the runner." consist

To be made up of something. "Her favorite chocolate fudge consists of sugar, corn syrup, cocoa, butter, milk, and chopped walnuts."

constitute

To be something or a part of something.

" 'Helping me to get up does not constitute an apology!' said Elsbet angrily, after Harry had knocked her down."

context

The words and phrases that surround a word or sentence, and help to understand the meaning of the word or sentence. "I said that I don't trust dishonest people, not that I don't trust all people;  you've taken the words out of context!"

contract

A document of formal or legal agreement.

"Mr. and Mrs. Young signed a contract with the apartment owner. The Young’s agreed to pay rent each month for a year, and the owner agreed that they could live in the apartment for a year."

create

To make something. "In art class Ms. Miller explained how to create a cereal bowl from wet, grey clay."

data

Information, often in the form of facts or numbers. "Mr. Taylor wrote down the class test scores in his notebook, and then entered that data in his computer."

define

To describe something exactly. "That row of barbed-wire fence defines the edge of Grandpa's field."

derive

To get something from a source. "The word  'home'  derives from an Old English word which meant a place to lie down and rest."

distribute

To give something out to a number of people. "Mr. Taylor will distribute  'Kid-Friendly Glossary & Examples' sheets to his class."

economy

Getting something done in the most effective way, with the best results for the amount of effort, money, and material used.

"Harry was the best jumper on our track team;  he smoothly cleared the top rail of the high jump with great economy of motion."

environment

All that surrounds something. "The aquarium tank contains the environment of Patrick's angel fish;  the forest  is the environment of the crested woodpecker."

Establish To start or set up something that is meant to last a long time. "The University of Michigan was established in 1834."

estimate

A rough calculation, an educated guess.

"Nine years old is my estimate of Theo's age."

evident

Obvious or easy to understand. "He couldn't answer any of his partner's questions.  It was evident that Jake hadn't read his assignment."

export

To send goods for sale to another country.

"Mr. Stevens needed to update his export license before he could sell his wheat to Portugal."

factor

Something that is part of what makes another thing happen. "Eating a balanced diet and exercising are factors in staying healthy." Also, "Not paying attention in class and not doing homework are factors in failing a test."

finance

To raise or provide money for something or someone. "I'd like to buy that new truck, but I don't think I can finance that much money right now."

formula

A rule that is written in symbols and numbers. "The formula for the area of a rectangle is  A  =  b * h "  (area = base * height)."

function

The purpose for which something is designed or used. "The function of the school bus is to carry students to and from school."

identify

To recognize and name something or somebody. "Hector identified the jacket that he had lost; it was in the school's  'Lost and Found'  box."

income

Money received over a period of time for work done or goods sold. "Todd worked part-time that summer and earned an income of $300. "

indicate

To show or point out something. "Jasmine said that she liked her aunt's cake, but her sour face indicated that she really didn't like it." Also, "The thermometer indicates that it's a very hot day."

interpret

To find or explain the meaning of something.  Also, to translate the meaning of words from one language into another language.

"The poem wrote about flowers and winds, but at the poetry reading the poem was interpreted to be about sadness and loneliness. " Also, "Wendy sat close to the new kindergartener to interpret for her."

 involve

To include something as necessary.

"Making a cake involves measuring, mixing, baking, and decorating."

issue

The main idea to be talked about, or a particular publication (magazine, stamp, stocks or bonds). " 'That's not the issue,' said Ricardo. 'We were going to plan a surprise party, not talk about the weather!'  "

Also, "Do you have the December 2010  issue of 'National Geographic'? "

labor

Physical work, especially using strength; or the group of all workers of a country or industry. "The labor union at the Chevrolet plant was telling the automobile workers not  to go to work in the morning." Also,

"Making the beautiful flower arrangement for her mother was a labor of love."

legal

Allowed by law, or related to law and courts of law. "Speeding on the city streets is not legal."

legislate

To write and pass laws. "The candidate promised to legislate to make more jobs available."

major

Of great importance, size, or seriousness;  also, a military title. "Major Samuelson announced that the weather satellite showed a major storm coming into southern Arizona."

method

A way of doing something; orderliness.

"The lattice method is one way to multiply;  long division is one method of dividing."

occur

To happen, or to come into one's mind.

"What time will that occur?  It just occurred to me that we are late!"

percent

Used to express a proportion in hundredths, sometimes with the ' %' sign. "Elizabeth knew that  'percent'  meant  'per  hundred'.  That's why  '70%'  is the same as  '70 hundredths'  or   '.70 ' or   '70/100' . "

period

A punctuation mark(.) used at the end of a sentence or in abbreviations;  also a division of playing time in some sports. "It didn't look good.  The U of A Wildcats hadn't scored at all by the end of the first period."

policy

A way of acting that is used by a person, or group or government. "It was Grandfather's policy to never charge anything on credit.  He would not buy at all if he couldn't pay cash."

principle

The basic way something works;  also, the model of quality or right-and-wrong that people follow in life. "I try to always tell the truth, as a matter of principle."

proceed

To go on to do something.

"After the guard checked Mrs. Slone's identification, he told her to proceed into the building."

process

A number of actions done to make a special thing happen. Registering to vote is a careful process:  First, you must show that you are a citizen and are at least 18 years old.  Then you must show that you live in this county.  

require

To need something or somebody.

"Mary's dog requires a rabies vaccination before it can get a dog license."

research

To look for facts in a careful, organized way for the purpose of learning about something, or telling whether what you already know is true or not. "Elliot began his research with the 1938 passenger lists of a steamship.  He wanted to find out how his grandfather first came to America."

respond

To give an answer. "The dog will always respond to a knock on the door by loud barking!"

role

An acting part in a movie, play, or other performance;  also, an expected way that someone or something. "At the neighborhood potluck, Martha's role was to set out the cold food while Paul fired up the grill and Kathryn filled the cooler with Pepsi and 7-Up."

section

A distinct part of the whole of something.

"Luz separated the tangerine into 12 sections."

sector

A pie-shaped part of a circle; also, a part of an area where military forces are in control.

"The General's plan called for Sector B to move out at dawn."

significant

Meaningful, or having an important effect.

"Jessie's home run was significant in helping her team to win the game."

similar

Like something else, but not totally the same. "The two trucks were similar:  both were 2005 pickups, but one was black and one was red."

source

The person, place, or thing where something started or was found. "Grandmother looked for the source of the leak that was making a puddle on the kitchen floor." Also,

"What is the source of the information in your science report?"

specific

Description that is exact and detailed enough to identify a particular person, place, or thing. "The doctor gave specific instructions to Heather's nurse."

structure

Something built; or the way parts go together and work together. "That old iron bridge is an interesting structure;  look how all the pieces fit together!"

theory

An idea or set of ideas about how and why things work together.   "Sylvia had a theory about how to increase her vocabulary."

vary

To change something.

"Max would vary his lunch.  Sometimes he had a peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich;  sometimes he had pizza."

Common Core Standards coming under increased scrutiny

Common Core Standards Criticism 

By: Jim Cook
Published: May 28, 2011
 

"While shared curriculum and testing standards may have commonsense appeal, there are a variety of criticisms of the plan. A growing chorus of activists and educators say Common Core Standards are an unconstitutional power grab by the federal government, will lower standards in high-performing states, reduce democratic participation and accountability in education matters and may unfairly give the edge in supplying tests and test preparation materials to a select group of companies."

“If you liked No Child Left Behind, you’ll like Common Core Standards,” said Betty Peters, an Alabama State School Board member. “It’s No Child Left Behind on steroids.”

Complete Article

DOTHAN EAGLE http://www2.dothaneagle.com

Fifth Grade Science Test Vocabulary

Fifth Grade Science Academic Vocabulary: Common Core State Standards

Fifth Grade Testing Vocabulary 

acids /bases

Acids can be solutions, liquids or solids. Acid solutions have a pH less than 7 and turn blue litmus paper red. They react with bases, taste sour and react with metals.

Example: Vinegar is a weak acid (acetic acid).

Bases can be thought of as the chemical opposite of acids. Bases react violently with acidic substances. They are bitter in taste, have a pH greater than 7, and turn red litmus paper blue.

Example: Many families use two bases at home: bleach for laundry such as Chlorox©, and ammonia for washing windows, floors, etc.

chemical change

In a chemical change, bonds are broken and formed between different atoms, forming a new compound/substance.

Photosynthesis results in a chemical change in which carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) are changed into sugars by plants.

chemical properties

Chemical properties are any of a material's properties that can be seen during a chemical reaction. (Unlike material properties, chemical properties cannot be identified by looking at the material.)

One of the chemical properties of hydrogen is that it can catch fire and explode under the right conditions.

concave lens

A lens with at least one inward-curving (concave) surface. Light going through a concave lens becomes spread out. (See figure below.)

conduction

The movement of heat, electricity through a material.

Aluminum, copper, silver and gold all have very good heat conduction properties.

conductor

A material which freely allows the flow of electricity or heat through it.

Aluminum is a very good conductor of electricity and heat.

contract/expand

To contract is to become smaller in size.

To expand is to become larger in size.

The pupils in your eyes contract when you go into bright light, and expand when you go into a dark room.

convection

The movement of molecules within fluids (i.e. liquids and gases).

Many people have convection ovens at home.

convex lens

A convex lens has one or more surfaces curving out or bulging outward. A convex lens takes a beam of light and focuses it on a point.

My magnifying glass has a convex lens.

ecosystem

An environment consisting of all the organisms living there, as well as the air, soil, water and sunlight conditions.

Tucson is located in a desert ecosystem.

environmental changes (human & nature)

Changes in an area caused by nature (e,g, storms, floods, weathering, etc.) or humans (e.g., building homes, paving the roads, or nearly all human activities).

The Tucson area has experienced many environmental changes caused by nature (mountain uplift) and humans (building thousands of homes).

fossils (relative age)

The relative age of fossils refers to figuring out the age based of the layer of the rock in which the fossil  is found. (Older fossils are found in deeper layers.)

Fossils  are the preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other organisms from the remote past.

Fossils of dinosaur footprints can be seen at Dinosaur Valley State Park near Glen Rose, Texas. The relative age of these tracks is 115 to 105 millions years old.

inherited traits

Characteristics passed from parents to their offspring (children) through genes. In plants, it's the passing of characteristics from the "parent" plant to new plants through genes in seeds.

In humans, inherited traits you can see are hair and eye color.

insulator

A material which electricity or heat has a hard time moving through.

A pot holder makes a good insulator and can keep you from burning your hand on a hot handle.

kinetic energy

The energy of a moving object.

If you catch a baseball hit by strong player, your hand will sting because the kinetic energy of the ball has been transferred to your hand.

light reflection

The bouncing of light off a surface.

A mirror works because of light reflection.

magnetic field

A magnetic field is a force field that can attract or repel certain materials (e.g., iron) or charged particles like electrons.

1) A permanent magnet produces its own magnetic field. 2) The earth has a magnetic field.

mass

In everyday usage, "mass" is often used to mean weight, but in physics, mass is the ratio of weight to the acceleration of gravity. On the earth, mass is the weight in pounds or kilograms divided by the acceleration of gravity, or weight in pounds / 32.2 ft/sec². 

Wherever you go in the universe, your mass is the same, but your weight will change as the force of gravity changes.

metamorphosis (complete & incomplete)

All insects undergo a visible change in form, texture and physical appearance or metamorphosis, from immature to adult. Some insects undergo an incomplete or partial metamorphosis, and the young of these insects look very much like the adults. Other insects undergo a complete metamorphosis, and the young of these insects look very different from the adults (e.g., caterpillar to butterfly).

The Monarch Butterfly goes through a complete metamorphosis, and changes from a caterpillar to a butterfly. A grasshopper goes through an incomplete metamorphosis, and the young nymphs look very much like the adults.

potential energy

The energy stored in an object or system due to its position in a force field (like gravity).

A back pack has a lot of potential energy if it is placed on a table where it can fall on the floor.

radiation

Particles of energy (e.g., electrons, alpha particles, neutrons, etc.) or waves (e.g. light or radio waves) that travel through a material or space.

Human beings can live on the earth because of the sun's radiation.

revolution

The movement of one body/planet completely around another.

It takes the earth 365 days to make one revolution around the sun.

species

In biology, a species is one of the basic groups in classification organisms (plants, animals, insects, etc.). The commonly used names for plants and animals are sometimes the same as the species' name: for example, "lion," "walrus," and "Camphor tree" each refer to a species. In other cases common names do not: for example, "deer" refers to a family of 34 species.

Human beings (Homo sapiens) are a species in the Mammalia class.

states of matter

The three states of matter  that you normally deal with are: solids, liquids, and gases. A fourth state of matter is plasma (an ionized state of matter similar to a gas) which is used in flat screen, plasma TV sets. A fifth state of matter is a Bose-Einstein condensate, which you need not worry about until you go into advanced college physics.

We commonly see all three states of matter for water every day: ice (solid), water (liquid), and gas

4th Grade Science Academic Vocabulary

Fourth Grade Science Test Vocabulary: Common Core State Standards 

 

Fourth Grade Science Test

adaptations

Something which has been changed to fit new conditions.

"When Anna moved to the United States with her parents and sisters, she could speak only Hungarian.  Now she can speak English fluently.  Anna has adapted to English; learning English was her adaptation."

amphibians

A land animal that breeds in water.  It grows to an adult in water, then lives on land.

"Hector's assignment was to bring some amphibians to class.   Hector brought in tadpoles in a jar of pond water."

cell (wall, membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus)

The cell is the basic unit of living things.  A wall (or membrane) surrounds the nucleus and  cytoplasm inside the cell.

"In science class Rhonda made a model of a cell using a balloon for the wall (or membrane), and water and a ping pong ball inside the balloon to represent the  cytoplasm and nucleus."

condensation

Droplets of water that form when warm, moist air comes in contact with cold air or a cold surface.

"It was a humid day, and condensation was forming on the outside of Robbie's  glass of iced lemonade."

earth's layers (crust, mantle, core)

In geology the earth's layers are named crust, mantle, and core. 

"The core is the center of the earth, made of molten iron and  nickel;  the crust is the solid outside layer; the mantle is the layer between the core and the crust."

edible ( parts of plants)

Parts of plants that can be eaten by people without harm.

"David's science report told the class that not all mushrooms are edible; some are very poisonous."

endangered

Something or someone that is at risk, or in danger.

"The dodo bird was once endangered, and now it is extinct.  The last dodo died in the 17th century."

erosion

The gradual wearing away of rock or soil.

"Erosion can happen by wearing away with wind, water, ice, or chemical solution; water erosion weakened the river bank and made it crumble into the river."

evaporation

When a liquid is changed to a vapor without actually boiling.

"Mr. Taylor said that the evaporation rate was very high; it was SO humid."

friction

The resistance of one object moving against another object.

"James rubbed sandpaper across the shelf until his hand became hot;  the heat was caused by the  friction between the sandpaper and the shelf."

gravity

The pull that the earth has on an object on the earth's surface.

"Elizabeth weighs 73 pounds;  This 73 pounds is the force of gravity on Elizabeth, the pull that keeps her from drifting off into space."

heredity

The passing on of genetic characteristics, like hair color or flower fragrance, from one generation of living beings to the next.

"Her hair color came to her by heredity:  Sally's great-grandfather had red hair, her grandfather has red hair, her mother has red hair, and Sally has red hair ."

lunar

Relating to a moon around a planet, especially the moon around the Earth.

"Isaac and his father focused the telescope on the moon;  tonight was a special night to watch the shadow of the lunar eclipse."

mammals

A class of warm-blooded animals that feeds its young with milk.

 "Did you know that the class of mammals includes humans, apes, dogs, whales, dolphins, and bats?"

mixture/solution

Mixture is two or more substances combined without any chemical change taking place; the original substances are still present without forming new substances.

Solution is a mixture where one of the original substances is a liquid.

"Stirring together chocolate Quik and milk forms a solution or mixture;  stirring together sugar and flour forms a mixture; stirring together an acid and a metal is not a mixture or a solution because a chemical change occurs and a new substance is formed."

moon phases (correct sequence)

The changing of shapes of the moon as seen from Earth in the sequence:  first quarter, full moon, last quarter, and new moon.

The moon phases repeat in the same order each month, and are caused by the Earth's shadow as it blocks the sun's light to the moon.

parallel circuit

A circuit is a route or path for electricity in which current can flow.  In a parallel circuit there is more than one path for the current to travel; in a series circuit there is only one path.

"Grandfather told us that long ago all the Christmas tree lights would go out when one light blew out  - Those lights were not on parallel circuits."

(Today we have parallel circuits in the electrical cords of our Christmas tree lights, and one bad bulb doesn't shut off the current paths to the rest of the lights.)

pitch

To set a musical instrument to a particular key.

"Mario's saxophone didn't sound right when he played songs with the band; he was off-pitch."

precipitation

Formation of an insoluble substance in a particular solution.

"Look!" said Rita, as a precipitation of solid particles sank to the bottom of her lemonade."

renewable / non-renewable

Being able to be begun or created again -- or not able to be created again.

"Corn and wheat are renewable resources as long as we have seeds to plant and soil and good weather for growing the seeds."

"Coal is a non-renewable resource because once all the coal is found and used up, it cannot be created again."

reptiles

Air-breathing cold-blooded egg-laying vertebrates.

"Examples of reptiles are crocodiles, tortoises, snakes, and lizards."

series circuit

An electrical circuit with only one path where a current can flow.

"Christmas tree lights in the 1950's were on series circuits; all the lights went out when only one bulb blew out."

simple machines

A simple unpowered device where resistance at one point is overcome by applying force at another point

"Examples of a simple machine are a lever, pulley, and inclined plane -- such as found in a shovel or crowbar, or a cord on Venetian blinds, or a wedge doorstop."

solar energy

Energy that is created by the heat of the sun.

"Solar energy generates energy in solar panels when sunshine heats up the fluid inside the panels."

threatened

In danger of becoming extinct.

"Some birds are threatened by the existence of wind farms, when the birds fly into the spinning blades and die."

 

thriving

To grow well, or to be successful.

"Cotton is a thriving crop in Arizona as long as irrigation water is available."

traits l characteristics

Defining features that make somebody or something recognizable.

"She could easily recognize the characteristics of Samuel's voice;  the traits were so much like his father's voice." 

3rd Grade Science Test Vocabulary

Third Grade Academic Science Vocabulary: Common Core State Standards

atmosphere
The layer of gases that surround the earth.
The earth's atmosphere contains mainly nitrogen and oxygen.

conservation
In biology, the protection and management of living things. (Conservation has many meanings, depending upon that you are trying to protect.)
If you leave desert plants and animals alone, and only take pictures, you are practicing conservation.

energy
The ability of one object to do work on another.
1) Batteries provide the energy to move a Toyota Prius.
2)Windmills change wind energy into electrical energy.

extinct
Plants, animals, insects (organisms) that no longer live on earth.
The Dodo bird is extinct.
Dodo Bird


force
A push or pull that causes an object to change its speed, direction, or shape (e.g., the force of gravity).
The force of gravity between the earth and sun causes the earth to revolve around the sun.

geological features
What the earth looks like -- mountains, flat areas (plains), valleys, continents, islands, etc.
The geological features of the Tucson area include a fairly flat land (plain), surrounded by several mountain ranges.

life cycle
In biology, the total lifespan of a living thing, from conception to death.
In astronomy, the total lifespan of a star, galaxy, etc., from "birth" to death.
Nine months of the life cycle of a human being are spent in the womb where we receive oxygen and food from our mothers.

magnetic attraction
A property of materials that causes them to move toward one another.
Iron has more magnetic attraction that most other materials.

matter
Matter is a general term for the material that makes up all physical objects.
Some astronomers think there is a lot of dark matter in the universe. ("Stuff" that's out there that we can't see.)

moon phases (basic four)
The lighted portion of the moon seen from earth. The basic four phases are new, waxing, full and waning moon.
The Chinese astronomers have observed and written down the moon phases for thousands of years.

natural resources
The materials (plants, animals, water, minerals, gases, etc.) that were present when the earth was formed or that developed as the earth aged, without the help of human beings.
One of Arizona's most important natural resources is copper.

observe
To watch or to see.
People who observe and study the universe are called astronomers.



offspring
In biology, a new animal (organism) produced by one or more parents.
A "cub" is the offspring of bears; a child is the offspring of humans.

orbit
The curved path of an object around a point in space.
The earth's orbit around the sun is an ellipse.

organism
Animals, fungi, plants or micro-organisms capable of reacting to stimuli (touch, heat, cold, etc.)
Rio Vista gives a tee shirt to each organism (student) who attends the school.

photosynthesis
A chemical process used by plants, algae, and some bacteria that uses energy from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into mainly sugar. The "waste" product is oxygen (O2).

physical change
A change in texture, shape, color, volume, weight or density of an object or substance, that does not change its chemical nature.
Making a baseball bat out of wood changes the shape of the wood and is a physical change.
physical properties
Physical properties can of an object or substance are properties that can be measured.
Physical properties include color, flexibility, location, melting point, strength and many others.

pollution
Contaminants in the environment that harm the environment or living things.
There are many kinds of pollution, but the one we hear most about is air pollution.

predator
An animal, plant or any organism that hunts and eats its food; a hunter.
The coyote is one predator which lives around Tucson.

prey
The animal (an organism) which is hunted for food by a predator.
Pack rats are a favorite prey of Bobcats.
rotation
A circular movement of an object around a center or point.
The earth takes 24 hours to complete one rotation on its axis.

scientific method
The group of actions for investigating, getting new knowledge, or correcting previous knowledge. It consists of observation, measurement, and experiment, and the the formulation , testing, and the modification of hypothesis.
As 4th grade students, you will be expected to use the scientific method for your science project.

solar system
The sun and the planets, moons, asteroids, comets, etc., that orbit the sun.
The earth is the third plant from the sun in our solar system.

water cycle
The water cycle describes the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the earth.
Rain is part of the water cycle.

weathering
The breaking down of rocks, soils, minerals and man-made materials by contact with the earth's atmosphere, waters, plants and animal life.
In Arizona, the sun is responsible for most weathering.