Glossary
annual
For one year. The family bought an annual membership to the zoo.
.
billion
A billion is one thousand millions. It is written as 1 followed by nine zeroes: 1,000,000,000. In 2020,
the world’s population was nearly
8 billion people.
biodiversity
The variety of plant and animal life in a particular place. Biodiversity is nature’s way of keeping things in balance.
broad-leaved trees
A family of trees with wide, flat leaves. Oaks and maples are two examples. In cold climates, most broad-leaved trees lose their leaves in fall.
calculate
To determine the exact number or amount of something using math
circle
A closed line that curves around a central point. Every point on the edge of a circle is the same distance from the center.
conifers
A family of trees that have long, thin leaves called needles and produce seed-filled cones. Pines and cedars are two examples. Many conifers keep their leaves all year round.
A to F
data
Information or facts gathered by measuring or observing. Data are usually communicated with numbers.
decrease
(verb) To become smaller in size or number
desert
An area of land where very little rain falls. Often sandy with few plants or trees.
estimate
(verb) To make a rough guess about the number or amount of something
flip
When you flip a shape, you turn it over and see its mirror image.
foot
A unit for measuring height, length, and distance. One foot equals 12 inches and about 30 centimeters.
frequency
The number of times a response occurs in a data set
fungi
Living things that release nutrients into the soil by breaking down fallen leaves and dead trees. Mushrooms and molds are examples of fungi.
continent
One of the seven large land
masses on the earth. The seven continents are Asia, Africa,
Europe, North America, South America, Australia, and Antarctica.
Glossary
gallon
A unit for measuring liquids. One gallon equals four quarts. If you run the shower for one minute, you use about five gallons of water.
grooming
taking care of an animal’s appearance by brushing, bathing, shampooing, trimming fur, and cutting nails.
hexagon
A closed shape with six straight sides. Hexagons fit tightly together to cover a space without any gaps.
hundred
One hundred is ten tens. It is written as 1 followed by two zeroes: 100. One hundred pennies are worth one dollar.
icon
A small picture that represents an idea or action. Paper and plastic with this icon ♺ can be recycled and reused.
increase
(verb) To grow in size or number
liter
A unit for measuring liquids in the metric system. One liter is slightly more than one quart.
G to O
mature
(adjective) Fully grown. It takes more than ten years for an apple tree to become a mature tree.
mental math
Solving math problems in your head without a calculator or paper and pencil
meter
A unit for measuring length in the metric system. One meter is around 39 inches, or slightly more than three feet.
million
A million is one thousand thousands. It is written as 1 followed by six zeroes: 1,000,000. Nearly four million people live in Chicago, Illinois.
myth
A story from long ago that explained things in the natural world or taught life lessons. Often includes characters with fabulous powers.
network
A group of things that are connected and work together as one system
outlier
A data point or number that is very different from the others in
a data set
oxygen
A colorless gas found in the air that humans need to breathe. Oxygen is also one of the main ingredients of water.
Glossary
parallelogram
A closed shape with four sides
and opposite sides that are
parallel
per capita
For each person
pound
(noun) A unit for measuring weight. A bunch of four bananas weighs about one pound.
rectangle
A closed shape with four sides and four right angles. Unlike a square, only the opposite sides of a rectangle are the same length.
right triangle
A triangle with one right angle that forms a square corner
roots
Parts of a plant or tree that grow underground and carry water and nutrients from the soil up to the stem
Place or culture where someone or something comes from
rotate
When you rotate a shape, you turn it around a central point.
P to Z
scale
Series of marks along a line used for measuring, with regular spaces
in between. The line graph uses a two-pound scale.In a map, model, or drawing, the relationship between the size of something pictured and its size in the real world. In this map, the
scale is one inch equals 100 miles.
slide
When you slide a shape, you move it up, down, or sideways in a straight line.
thousand
A thousand is ten hundreds. It is written as 1 followed by three zeroes: 1,000. You may not realize it but you blink your eyes about one thousand times every hour!
square
A closed shape with four equal sides and four right angles
tropics
Areas near Earth’s equator that are warm and rainy
species
A group of animals or plants that are alike in certain ways and able to mate and have offspring
triangle
A closed shape with three straight
sides and three corners. See also right triangle.
survey
(noun) Collection of data based on asking
a group of people the same question(s).
More than 200 sixth graders completed the survey about school lunches.
vertical
(adjective) standing or pointing straight up
