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.
Informal descriptive language and precise scientific vocabulary is best developed after direct concrete experience. As students conduct the investigations in the FOSS Living Systems, vocabulary is introduced naturally after students have had an experience to which to connect the new words.
Vocabulary is introduced and reviewed with students in the Science Resources book. These terms, included in the FOSS Science Resources glossary, are listed below.
Printable pdf versions are also available. To view or print these files you must have a pdf viewer such as Adobe Acrobat. Acrobat is free and can be downloaded at http://www.adobe.com.
Living Systems Module Glossary Terms (pdf)
Living Systems Module Glossary (pdf)
Living Systems Module Spanish Glossary (pdf)
In the course of the investigations, students are encouraged to learn and use the following vocabulary:
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Artery A blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body. |
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Bladder The organ that holds urine until it is eliminated. |
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Blade The flat part of a leaf. |
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Bolus A wad of food. |
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Botanist A scientist who studies plants. |
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Capillary The smallest blood vessel. Gases, nutrients, and wastes are exchanged between capillaries and cells. |
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Carbohydrate A group of nutrients that provide energy; sugars and starches. |
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Carbon dioxide A waste gas produced during cellular respiration. Plants use carbon dioxide during photosynthesis to make food. |
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Classification The process by which scientists identify and organize objects and organisms, such as plants. |
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Classify To identify and organize according to similar properties or other criteria. |
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Cell The basic unit of life. |
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Cell membrane The outside of a living cell. |
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Cellular respiration The process by which energy for life is released from food in cells. |
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Chlorophyll A molecule that absorbs red and blue light and reflects green light. |
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Circulate To move in or flow through in a circle. |
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Circulatory system The system of blood vessels and organs that transports blood to all the cells in the body. |
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Colon The large intestine where solid waste is compacted in preparation for elimination. |
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Cytoplasm The liquid that fills living cells. |
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Diabetes A disease in which the body cannot process sugar efficiently. |
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Digestion The process of reducing food into nutrients that can be used by cells. |
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Digestive system The system of organs and structures responsible for the digestion of food. The digestive system includes the teeth, mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and colon. |
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Energy What cells need to do work. |
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Esophagus The tube connecting the mouth and the stomach. |
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Excretory system The system, which includes the kidneys and bladder, that eliminates waste. |
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Fat A group of nutrients that provide energy and building blocks for development of some body systems. |
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Food group The six groups designated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for a healthy diet. The six food groups are grains, vegetables, fruits, oils, milk, and meat and beans. |
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Food pyramid An illustration that shows the recommended amounts of food in each food group for a healthy diet. |
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Glucose A sugar found in food; the sugar broken down by in cells to release energy. |
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Heart A muscular organ that pumps blood. |
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Intestine A part of the digestive system. The small intestine absorbs nutrients from digested food. The large intestine removes water from solid waste. |
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Kidney An organ that filters and cleans the blood. |
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Large intestine The part of the digestive system between the small intestine and the rectum where water is removed from the solid waste. |
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Left atrium The upper chamber on the left side of the heart. |
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Left ventricle The lower chamber on the left side of the heart. |
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Lung The organ in animals where gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, pass between the atmosphere and the blood. |
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Margin The edge of a leaf. |
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Mineral A nutrient that xylem transports to the cells in a vascular plant. |
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Multicellular An organism composed of many cells. |
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Nutrient A chemical found in food that helps keep an organism alive and active. |
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Nutrition The process of providing nutrients for cells. |
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Oxygen A waste gas produced by plants during photosynthesis, which is used by all plants and animals during cellular respiration. |
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Palmate A leaf vein pattern in which there are several veins that all start at one point near the base. The veins look like the fingers of a hand. |
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Parallel A leaf vein pattern in which the veins are straight lines all running in the same direction. |
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Phloem The long cells through which nutrients, such as sugars, are distributed in a plant. |
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Photosynthesis The process by which green plants make sugar from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of light. |
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Pinnate A leaf vein pattern that looks like a feather. There is one main vein that has smaller veins branching off sideways from it. |
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Protein A group of nutrients that provide energy and building blocks for growth and repair of body tissues. |
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Respiratory system The system of lungs and connecting tubes that transports oxygen to the red blood cells and gets rid of carbon dioxide. |
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Right atrium The upper chamber on the right side of the heart. |
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Right ventricle The lower chamber on the right side of the heart. |
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Saliva The liquid produced in the mouth that aids digestion. |
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Sap A sugar-rich liquid transported by phloem. |
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Small intestine The part of the digestive system between the stomach and large intestine that absorbs nutrients from digested food. |
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Specialized structure A structure used primarily for one purpose. |
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Starch Chemicals produced by plants to store food. |
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Stomach The organ where food is reduced to mush by acid and muscle activity. |
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Sugar The nutrient that cells use for energy. |
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Teeth Hard structures in the mouth used for cutting, biting, and chewing food. |
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Tissue A group of similar cells working together to perform a function. |
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Transport To move or carry. |
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Urine Liquid waste produced by kidneys. |
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Variable Anything you can change in an experiment that might affect the outcome. |
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Vascular bundle The group of xylem tubes and phloem tubes in a vascular plant. |
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Vascular plant A plant with an internal system of tubes for transporting nutrients to its roots, stems, and leaves. |
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Vein The blood vessel that carries blood from the body to the heart. |
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Xylem The hollow cells of a plant that transport water and minerals to plant cells. |
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