absorb: to take in and hold
acid rain: rain (or snow) that has become a weak acid by mixing with air pollution
action plan: steps needed to reach a goal
annual: a plant that grows for only 1 year or season
astronomer: one who studies planets, stars, and other objects in space
astronomy: the study of planets, stars, and other objects in space
attitude: way of thinking, behaving, feeling
biodegradable: capable of being broken down or decomposed
block and tackle: a type of compound pulley
blood pressure: the force of blood flow in the blood vessels
brainstorming: thinking of as many solutions to a problem as possible
carbon dioxide: a colourless gas that plants absorb from the air
charity: aid given to those in need
chlorophyll: the green pigment (colouring) of plants; needed for photosynthesis to absorb the light energy of the Sun
clone: a plant that is identical to its parent; a plant produced by cuttings, runners, or bulbs
communicate: to give information or news by talking or writing
compost: decayed organic matter
compost: to turn organic matter into soil-like material full of nutrients
concave lens: a piece of glass or plastic that is thicker around the edges than in the middle
coniferous: referring to trees that have needle-shaped evergreen leaves and bear seeds in cones; needles remain over winter
consequence: the result of an action
convex lens: a piece of glass or plastic that is thinner at its edges and thicker in the middle
compound pulley: a pulley system with more than one rope and wheel
culture: the way of life of a group of people
cutting: a part cut from a plant to grow a new plant
decay: to rot and break down
deciduous: referring to trees that lose their leaves in winter
decomposer: an organism that feeds on the waste and dead tissues of other organisms
disposable: designed to be used once and then thrown away
disrespectful: not having respect or value for someone
E. coli: a bacteria found in humans and cattle
effort: force applied to a machine to move an object
electricity: a form of energy that can produce light, heat, and motion
embryo: the undeveloped plant within a seed
emotions: feelings (such as jealousy, happiness, and anger)
endorphins: “feel-good” chemicals released by the body
environment: all of the surroundings and conditions that affect the growth and development of living things
ethnobotanist: a person who studies plants used for food, tools, and medicine by a particular cultural group
fertilization: the process that occurs when male reproductive cells unite with a female reproductive cell
fertilizer: a substance put in soil to improve plant growth
filament: the wire (in a light bulb) that glows when electricity passes through it
fixed pulley: a pulley attached to something that does not move
fixed: does not move
flexible: bendable
fluorescent: a light source that is made of a long tube with a special gas inside that lights up when electricity flows from one end of the tube to the other
force: a push or a pull acting upon an object
friction: a force that opposes the motion between two objects in contact with each other
friction: a force that opposes the motion of an object
fulcrum: fixed point on a lever
germinate: to begin to grow or sprout
gears: wheels with teeth on their edges
generator: a machine that changes water power, steam power, or other kinds of mechanical energy into electricity
glance: hit and move off at a slant
glucose: a simple sugar
goal: something you want and are willing to work for
gravity: a force of attraction between objects
greenhouse gas: a gas that traps heat and causes global warming
grey water: water that drains from sinks and tubs
growing season: the number of days that the conditions are right for growing plants outdoors
growth cycle: the different steps a plant goes through from seed to maturity and production of new seeds
growth ring: ring formed in a tree trunk during each year’s growth; also called a tree ring or annual ring
horizontal: parallel to the ground
immune system: the body system that fights disease
incandescent: a light source (for example, a light bulb) that uses a vacuum and filament
inclined plane: a simple machine with a slope, such as a ramp
inertia: the tendency of objects to remain in motion or to stay at rest
interact: communicate and act with one another
landfill: a place where garbage is buried
lever: a stiff bar or rod that pivots around a fixed point
light source: an object that makes its own light
load: object or material to be moved
luminous: having its own light
lunar: having to do with the Moon
machine: anything that helps us perform a task more easily
manure: animal waste
maturity: at the adult stage of life
methane: a greenhouse gas
middens: garbage disposal sites
mind map: a way of describing a problem using key words and pictures
movable pulley: a pulley that moves with the load
mulch: straw, bark, or manure spread to protect soil and plant roots
negative: not positive; unkind
nutrients: substances that nourish or feed
opaque: not allowing light to travel through
organic matter: material that occurs naturally, such as wood, straw, hair, skin, fur, and bone
ovary: the part of the pistil that contains the female reproductive cells of the plant
overcome: overwhelmed; overpowered by too much
oxygen: a colourless gas in the air; needed by animals and humans to survive
packaging: plastic, foil, and paper wrapping around items for sale
perennial: a plant that lives for more than 2 years or growing seasons
photosynthesis: the process by which plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make a type of sugar
pistil: the part of the flower that produces seeds
pivot: to move around a fixed point
pollen: fine, yellowish particles that contain male reproductive cells of a plant
pollination: the process that occurs when pollen from stamens lands on pistils
pollute: put damaging waste into the land, air, or water
positive: having a good, friendly, helpful attitude
physics: the science that studies matter and energy, and how they interact
predict: to guess what is going to happen beforehand
primary colours of light: red, green, and blue
processing: handling in a special way
projectile: a missile for a weapon
pulley: a wheel-and-axle system used to change the direction of applied force
pulp: a soft, moist mixture of ground-up wood, rags, or other material from which paper is made
recycle: to process a used item so the materials that were used to make it can be reused
reduce: use less
reflect: to turn back, bounce back, or throw back light, heat, or sound
reflex: a body’s automatic reaction to something
refraction: the bending of light as it passes through a transparent object
resist: to act against an applied force
respect: an attitude that shows that you value a person or thing
responsible: expected to take the credit or blame
runner: a stem that grows along the ground and takes root
run-off: excess water that drains into creeks, lakes, and rivers
scurvy: a disease caused by lack of vitamin C
self-reliance: depending on your own abilities
sewage: waste that passes through sewers or into a septic system
sewer: underground pipes that carry waste water
shadow: a dark shape caused by something or someone blocking light
skills: things learned by doing
simple machine: a basic machine like the inclined plane, lever, pulley, screw, wedge, and wheel and axle
simple pulley: a pulley with one wheel
source: the place from which anything comes
spectrum: the band of colours made by splitting up white light
stamen: the male reproductive organ of a flower
staple: an important food item that is used regularly or that is a basic part of a diet
stress: emotional or physical strain; for example, the stress of hunger or the stress of sadness
theory: a general rule that explains or predicts facts or events
translucent: allowing some light to pass through, but not enough for clear images
transparent: allowing most light to travel through
threads: sloping ridges that wind or coil around a screw, bolt, or jar lid
trebuchet: a medieval military machine for hurling heavy missiles (such as rocks)
trigger: the thing that causes the alarm to go off
toxic: poisonous
turbine: a large wheel rotated by the force of moving steam, water, or other fluid
vacuum: a space containing no air, or from which the air has been removed
veins: thread-like pipes in a leaf
vertical: upright or straight up and down
volunteer: (v.) do something without pay; (n.) someone who volunteer
wedge: a simple machine used to separate materials; two inclined planes together
wheel and axle: a simple machine made up of an attached wheel and cylinder
Copyright ©2006 Alberta Education