Science Flashcards
Bloom’s Taxonomy
a hierarchy of levels of knowledge; each level has associated verbs teachers can use to start questions
“identify” is at a lower level than “argue” because it requires a lower level of thinking
Brain-Based Learning
a type of learning which makes connections across sides of the brain; incorporates activity in learning
active learning activities such as debating
Conclusion
a summary of the results of an experiment; states whether the initial hypothesis was rejected or supported
chapter tests, semester tests
Control Group
a group of specimens in an experiment to which no change is made; does not receive the experimental treatment
Data
measurements and observations recorded during an experiment
Dependent Variable
a variable which is measured by the scientist conducting the experiment
Differentiation
tailoring the material taught to each student to ensure adequate challenge and retention of the material
Different spelling lists based on a student’s ability and reading level
Elaborate (5E Model)
Fourth phase of 5E model. students extend their thinking and practice new skills.
Engage (5E Model)
First phase of 5E model. students become mentally engaged, make connections to previous learning, and think about their own learning outcomes.
English-Language Learners
students whose first language is not English or who come from an environment in which English is not the dominant language
Evaluate (5E Model)
Final (fifth) phase of 5E model. students are assessed on their understanding and teachers evaluate learning to inform their next lesson.
Evidence-Based Science Instruction
using educational research to design lessons
Experimental Group
a group of specimens in an experiment to which a change is made; receives the experimental treatment
Experimental Investigation
Researchers assign subjects in the sample to certain treatments, then observe the effects of the treatment. Can show causation (cause and effect).
Does using algebra tiles during instruction help freshman students learn how to solve equations?
Explain (5E Model)
Third phase of 5E model. students explain what they know and verbalize their understanding. Teachers use this phase to formally define terms and explain processes.
Explicit Teaching
the process of teaching by communicating clear expectations and giving specific feedback to students
Explore (5E Model)
Second phase of 5E model. students work with the material, developing their knowledge, and usually actively manipulating materials or interactive content.
Feedback Loop
a series of experiments in which the results lead to more possible hypotheses and subsequently more testing
Formal Assessments
a usually post-instruction assessment with the purpose of assessing student knowledge, retention, and application. Often involve the use of a standardized rubric or scoring guide based on several criteria.
Formative Assessments
a usually mid-instruction assessment with the purpose of assessing student progress and informing the teacher so instruction can be altered as needed.
portfolios, graphic organizers, games
Hypothesis
an informed prediction (made based on previous observations) for a phenomena. Should be testable.
If we give plants more fertilizer, they will grow taller.
Independent Variable
a variable which is manipulated by the scientist conducting the experiment
Informal Assessments
More flexible than formal assessments and can be adjusted to fit the situation and particular needs of the student being tested
observations during a lesson
Inquiry-Based Activities
activities that allow students to participate in the scientific method with little guidance from the teacher
experiments, discussions
K-W-L Chart
A graphic organizer used throughout a unit that shows what students know (K), want to know (W), and learned (L)
Observations
information gathered using the five senses
smell, color
Products
material produced by the student to demonstrate content mastery
artwork, posters, lab activities, journals
Qualitative Data
data which is described rather than measured
color, shape, smell
Quantitative Data
data which is measured and usually expressed numerically
distance, time, temperature
Summative Assessments
Tests given at specific points in time in order to determine what students know and don’t know. Summative assessments are generally formal.
State assessments, district benchmarks, semester or six weeks tests, and end of unit or chapter
Hardness
the mineral’s resistance to scratching; measured on the Mohs scale, where talc, the softest mineral, has a score of 1 and diamond, the hardest, has a score of 10
Sedimentary Rock
rock formed when sediments build up and cement together
Rock
an accumulation of one or more minerals
sedimentary rock
Outer Core
the layer of the earth just beneath the mantle; composed of very hot, liquified rock
Tectonic Plates
plates or portions of Earth’s crust and upper mantle, which glide across the asthenosphere
Pacific Plate
Silt
Dense with small particles, feels soapy, forms from weathered granite and feldspar, holds water and compacts easily.
Mineral
a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with an orderly, network structure and definite chemical composition
diamond
Continental Crust
crust found under continents; made of mostly silicon, oxygen, and aluminum
Weathering
a destructive process by which rock is gradually worn away and broken into smaller sediments and/or soil water gradually breaking down and smoothing rock
Crystalline Structure
the degree to which the mineral is arranged in a crystal lattice structure; the more crystalline the mineral is, the harder that lattice is to see with the naked eye diamond is more crystalline than graphite and is therefore stronger
Streak
the color of the mineral in powder form; obtained by dragging a piece of the mineral across a piece of unglazed porcelain
amethyst has a streak color of white
Ocean Basins
depressions on the earth’s surface due to the sinking of oceanic crust
Convection Currents
the movement of fluid which transfers heat from one place to another
air in a hot air balloon - hot air travels upward and cools, then the denser, cooler air sinks, resulting in the circular motion of the air
Color
the color of the mineral
purple amethyst
Equator
The center line of latitude around the middle of the Earth that divides the globe into a Northern and Southern hemisphere
Nuclear Fission
a process in which the nuclei of an atom is split, releasing a massive amount of energy.
Chemical Weathering
the process of breaking down rocks by chemical means
acid rain
Convection
the transfer of heat by a moving fluid, like air and water heat rising from a lit candle
Constructive Processes
processes that add new landforms to the surface of the earth
landslides, hot spot volcanoes
Karst Topography
a stretch of land that overlays porous, soluble rock
Metamorphic Rock
form when igneous or sedimentary rock are subjected to great heat and pressure
marble
Crust
the outermost and coolest layer of the earth
Hot Spring
a geological feature produced when water is heated by geothermal activity and pushed to Earth’s surface Banff Upper Hot Springs in Banff National Park
Diaphaneity
“the transparency of the mineral or ability of light to pass through it”
witherite is translucent, allowing some light through
Mechanical Weathering
the process of breaking down rocks by physical means water freezes in a crack in the rock and breaks it apart
Soil Profile
“The layers of soil found in a region. When a cut is made, the profile is the seen as a stack of soil horizons.”
Heat Transfer
the movement of thermal energy from one material to another
hands on hot coffee cup
Conduction
the transfer of thermal energy through a material or between two materials that are touching
heating pad
Nutrients
substances in food and beverages that nourish the body. They support growth, produce energy, and maintain the body. fat
Odor
the smell of a mineral; some minerals give off an odor when moistened or heated pyrite gives off a rotten egg odor when heated
Mantle
the layer of the earth just beneath the crust; composed of very hot rock
Taste
the mineral’s taste; only soluble minerals have a taste halite has a salty taste
Loam
A fertile soil mixture of mostly sand with some clay and silt. Ideal for gardening because it holds water and nutrients.
Tenacity
the mineral’s ability to resist separation or breaking when subjected to stress
quartz is brittle and will be crushed to a powder when hammered
Organic Material
dead plant and animal material in the soil decomposing blades of grass
Inner Core
the extremely hot innermost layer of the earth; composed of mostly solid iron and nickel
Plate Tectonics
the large-scale movements of portions of the earth’s crust over long periods of time
Sand
Relatively large particles. Feels gritty and drains rapidly.
Acid Rain
Rain with a lower pH than neutral. Acid rain is corrosive to many substances, including rocks. Often caused by pollution.
sulfur dioxide dissolves in the water droplets of clouds to make sulfuric acid
Luster
the ability of the mineral’s surface to reflect light; can be metallic, submetallic, or nonmetallic
galena has a metallic luster
Cleavage
the pattern along which the mineral breaks
halite has cleavage in three directions
Soil
the upper layer of the earth’s surface; formed from the weathering of rocks
Oceanic Crust
crust found under oceans; made of mostly silicon, oxygen, and magnesium
Destructive Processes
processes that destroy landforms
weathering, erosion
Geyser
a geological feature where magma close to the surface heats groundwater and the resulting pressure forces the water up to the surface Old Faithful
Microorganisms
organisms so small a microscope is needed to see them -bacteria, fungus
Hot Spot
a place far away from tectonic plate boundaries where upwelling magma creates a hole in Earth’s crust and lava erupts onto the surface Galapagos Islands
Erosion
The slow wearing away the surface of the land by wind or water
wind erosion, water runoff
Soil Horizon
Igneous Rock
rock formed when magma or lava cools -granite
Peat
Rich in organic material, compresses easily, holds water, may be acidic, spongy to touch.
Specific Gravity
the ratio of the density of the mineral to the density of water
sapphire has a specific gravity of about 4, meaning it is 4 times heavier than an equal amount of water
Radiation
heat transfer by an electromagnetic wave
standing by a hot fire
Clay
Dense and heavy, with very small particles, a smooth texture, and little organic material. Holds water and may be alkaline.
Magnetism
the response of a mineral when exposed to magnetic materials magnetite displays strong attraction to magnetic fields
Daylight Saving Time
the practice of setting clocks forward one hour during the summer months
Partial Solar Eclipse
an event in which the sun is only partially blocked by the moon
Spring Tide
“greater tidal effects due to the sun, moon, and Earth being aligned”
Neap Tide
“lesser tidal effects due to the sun and moon pulling on the earth from different directions”
Spring
a season with roughly equal length of day and night; marks transition from winter into summer
Northern Hemisphere
The half of the earth north of the equator
Waning Gibbous
the phase during which the illuminated side of the moon is decreasing, but more than half the face of the moon is illuminated as seen from Earth
Low Tide
lower water levels due to being out of line with the gravity of the moon and sun
Mars
the fourth planet from the sun; an inner planet (inside the asteroid belt); the “Red Planet”; home to Olympus Mons, the tallest mountain in the solar system;
New Moon
the phase during which the moon is between the sun and the earth; the side of the moon visible from Earth receives no direct sunlight
Annular Solar Eclipse
an event in which the moon is farthest from the sun; this appears as a smaller dark circle on the sun
Time Zones
a region of the earth which observes a uniform standard time; there are around 37 time zones, depending on daylight saving time
-Nepal Standard Time
Fall
a season with roughly equal length of day and night; marks transition from summer into winter
Satellite
an object or body that orbits another object or body Earth’s moon
Asteroids
small, rocky bodies in the sun’s orbit Ceres
Dwarf Planet
a small planet not large enough to clear its orbit of debris -Pluto
Meteor
a meteoroid that has entered Earth’s atmosphere
Lunar Eclipse
an event in which the moon’s surface is obscured or darkened by Earth’s shadow
Jupiter
the fifth planet from the sun; an outer planet (outside the asteroid belt); largest planet; over twice as massive as all the other planets combined; has four large moons; about 90% hydrogen and 10% helium
Earth
the third planet from the sun; an inner planet (inside the asteroid belt); only known habitable planet; 71% of surface covered with liquid water
Total Solar Eclipse
an event in which the sun is completely blocked by the moon
Meteorite
what remains of a meteor after it hits the surface of the earth
High Tide
higher water levels due to the gravity of the moon and sun
Tides
rising and falling sea levels due to the sun’s and moon’s gravity and the rotation of the earth
Pluto
previously classified as the ninth planet from the sun; usually now classified as a minor planet or dwarf planet; has four moons
Full Moon
the phase during which the moon is 180 degrees away from the sun as seen from earth; the face of the moon is nearly fully illuminated
Summer
the season with the longest days, shortest nights, and hottest temperature; summer occurs when that region of the earth is tilted toward the sun
Solar System
A star, as well as the planets, satellites, asteroids, and all the other objects orbiting it. They travel together through space.
Sedna
another dwarf planet; much farther from the sun than Pluto; takes 10,000 years to orbit the sun
Bulges
areas on the earth in line with the moon’s gravity which have a larger amount of water
Solar Eclipse
an event in which the sun’s surface is obscured or darkened by the moon
Comet
a body made of ice and dust in the sun’s orbit; contains a gas and dust “tail” -Halley’s Comet
Uranus
the seventh planet from the sun; an outer planet (outside the asteroid belt); composed mostly of rock and ice; has 27 named moons
Planet
a body moving in orbit around a star; large enough to clear debris in its orbit; has enough gravity to make it round -Earth
Saturn
the sixth planet from the sun; an outer planet (outside the asteroid belt); the least dense planet; has a complex ring system
Winter
the season with the shortest days, longest nights, and coldest temperatures; winter occurs when that region of the earth is tilted away from the sun
Heliocentricity
the understanding that the sun is at the center of our solar system
Phase of The Moon
the appearance of the surface of the moon as seen on earth
Meteoroids
small bodies of debris from space which move into Earth’s atmosphere and can then turn into meteors
First Quarter
the phase during which the moon is 90 degrees away from the sun as seen from the earth; the moon is a quarter illuminated and has traveled a quarter of the way around the earth
Venus
the second planet from the sun; an inner planet (inside the asteroid belt); slightly smaller than Earth; similar density and chemical composition to Earth
Last Quarter
the phase during which the moon is 270 degrees away from the sun as seen from the earth; half the moon’s surface is illuminated as seen from Earth
Neptune
the eighth planet from the sun; an outer planet (outside the asteroid belt); methane in the atmosphere absorbs red light to make it appear blue; gives off over twice as much energy as it receives from the sun
Period (of A Comet)
the amount of time it takes for a comet to orbit the sun Halley’s Comet has a period of about 75 years
Waxing Gibbous
the phase during which more than half the moon is illuminated as seen from Earth
Waning Crescent
the phase during which the illuminated portion of the moon is decreasing and less than half the moon’s face is illuminated
Mercury
the first planet from the sun; an inner planet (inside the asteroid belt); slightly larger than Earth’s moon; experiences extreme temperature variations; large iron core
Waxing Crescent
the phase during which the moon is between 0 and 90 degrees away from the sun as seen from the earth; the side of the moon visible from Earth gradually becomes more illuminated
Coriolis Effect
due to Earth’s rotation and uneven heating, objects in the northern hemisphere deflect to the right, and objects in the southern hemisphere deflect to the left Cyclones in southern hemisphere rotate clockwise
Evaporation
a phase change from the liquid state to the gas state water boils and turns to steam
Transpiration
process of evaporation in which water exits as vapor from the surface of plant leaves
Condensation
a phase change from the gas state to the liquid state humidity condensing on a cold glass of tea
Water Vapor
water in the gas phase
Humidity
a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air
Surface Runoff
water which flows over the surface of the earth to a body of water
Percolate
to travel from the surface to groundwater through the spaces between soil and rock particles
Equator
The center line of latitude around the middle of the Earth that divides the globe into a Northern and Southern hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
The half of the earth south of the equator
Water Cycle / Hydrologic Cycle
the process by which water circulates between the earth and the atmosphere
Northern Hemisphere
The half of the earth north of the equator
Precipitation
water which falls to the earth due to gravity
-rain, snow, sleet, hail
Surface Current
a river-like flow of water of different temperature within Earth’s oceans -Humboldt Current
Acid Rain
Rain with a lower pH than neutral. Acid rain is corrosive to many substances, including rocks. Often caused by pollution.
sulfur dioxide dissolves in the water droplets of clouds to make sulfuric acid
Feedback Loop (in Systems)
a process by which the results of a change increase or decrease the effect of the change
melting ice caps due to global warming increases global warming
Fossil Fuels
a natural non-renewable fuel source. derived from underground, fossilized (petrified) remains of living organisms.
natural gas, petroleum, coal
Global Warming / Climate Change
an overall increase in average global temperatures due to the greenhouse effect (the increasing amount of carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere trapping more heat)
Greenhouse Effect
the trapping of the sun’s heat in the atmosphere due to the increased presence of gases in the atmosphere; light is allowed to pass through, but heat is trapped, similar to the glass walls of a greenhouse
Greenhouse Gases
gases which, when present in elevated quantities in Earth’s atmosphere, trap solar radiation and cause the planet to warm
carbon dioxide
Heliocentricity
the understanding that the sun is at the center of our solar system
Non-Renewable Resources
resources which will be depleted faster than they can be replenished
natural gas, petroleum
Renewable Resources
resources which replenish at the same (or faster) rate than the rate at which they are used
wind energy, solar energy, hydroelectric power
Risk Assessment
the process by which scientists analyze potential risks and benefits before conducting scientific investigations and experiments
Scientific Knowledge
scientific fact discovered using the scientific method
Scientific Method
a series of deliberate steps by which scientists observe, hypothesize, test, analyze data, and communicate results
Accuracy
a way of determining/discussing how close a measurement is to its actual value; often defined as 1/2 of the smallest measuring unit
Bar Graph
a visual representation of data which compares values in different categories
English system / Imperial system
a system of measurement used in the United States using units such as feet, pounds and ounces
Grams (g)
the base metric unit of mass
Histogram
a visual representation of data, similar to a bar graph, which compares frequencies of different occurrences
International System of Units (SI) / The Metric System
a system of measurement used throughout the world
meters, liters, grams
Liters (l)
the base metric unit of volume
Measurement
a number that shows the size or amount of something
Meter (m)
the unit for distance in the metric system
The pool was 6 m deep.
Negative Correlation
a negative relationship between data points on a graph; as one variable decreases, the other variable increases; produces a trend line with a negative slope
No Correlation
no relationship between data points on a graph; the variables do not appear to be related, and no trend line can be drawn through the data points
Pie Chart
a graph in which a circle is divided into sectors that each represent a proportion of the whole. Pie charts are helpful when displaying the relative distribution of categories.
Positive Correlation
a positive relationship between data points on a graph; as one variable increases, so does the other; produces a trend line with a positive slope
Precision
a way of determining/discussing what level of accuracy is possible based on the tools used
Protractor
a tool used to measure angles
Ruler
a tool used to measure length
Scale
a tool used to measure weight or mass
Scatter Plot
a graph made by making one point for each value; the independent variable is shown on the x-axis and the dependent variable is shown on the y-axis
Tolerance (in stats)
the amount of measurement error that is allowed
Trend Line
a line drawn through the areas with the highest concentration of data points on a scatter plot; the trend line is a visual representation of the mean
Bar Graph
a visual representation of data which compares values in different categories
Conceptual Models
a representation of a system using diagrams or drawings to explain complex or abstract systems or processes
a diagram of cellular respiration
Conclusion
a summary of the results of an experiment; states whether the initial hypothesis was rejected or supported
Control Group
a group of specimens in an experiment to which no change is made; does not receive the experimental treatment
Controlled Variable
a variable which is kept stable throughout the experiment, across control and experimental groups