Earth and Space Science: Glossary
217 words, listed in the order you meet them in Courseversity lessons.
All words in this topic
Grade 1
symbol
From Grade 1
a simple picture that stands for something
Learn it in: What is weather (Grade 1), Daily weather observations (Grade 2), Weather observations (Grade 3)
sunscreen
From Grade 1
a cream that protects the skin from the Sun
Learn it in: Sunny weather (Grade 1)
flood
From Grade 1
a lot of water covering dry land
Learn it in: Rainy weather (Grade 1), Weather safety (Grade 2), Extreme weather (Grade 3)
cloud
From Grade 1
a mass of tiny water drops in the sky
Learn it in: Cloudy weather (Grade 1), Clouds (Grade 2), Condensation (Grade 4)
breeze
From Grade 1
a gentle wind
Learn it in: Windy weather (Grade 1), Moving air (Grade 2), Wind (Grade 2)
wind
From Grade 1
air that is moving
Learn it in: Windy weather (Grade 1), Wind (Grade 2), Wind direction (Grade 3)
Moon
From Grade 1
the large round object that shines at night
Learn it in: Observing the sky (Grade 1), Outer planets (Grade 5)
sunrise
From Grade 1
when the Sun first appears in the morning
Learn it in: Day and night (Grade 1), Day and night (Grade 4), Earth’s rotation (Grade 5)
sunset
From Grade 1
when the Sun goes down in the evening
Learn it in: Day and night (Grade 1), Day and night (Grade 4)
dry season
From Grade 1
a time of year with little rain
Learn it in: Weather changes (Grade 1), Seasonal changes (Grade 2), Seasonal patterns (Grade 3)
rainy season
From Grade 1
a time of year with much rain
Learn it in: Weather changes (Grade 1), Seasonal changes (Grade 2)
season
From Grade 1
a part of the year with its own weather
Learn it in: Weather changes (Grade 1), Seasonal changes (Grade 2), Seasonal patterns (Grade 3)
lightning
From Grade 1
a bright flash of electricity in the sky
Learn it in: Weather safety (Grade 1), Weather safety (Grade 2)
storm
From Grade 1
bad weather with strong wind, rain and thunder
Learn it in: Weather safety (Grade 1), Wind (Grade 2), Extreme weather (Grade 3)
Grade 2
thermometer
From Grade 2
a tool that measures temperature
Learn it in: Temperature (Grade 2), Weather instruments (Grade 2), Heating and cooling (Grade 3)
millimetre
From Grade 2
a small unit of length, written mm
Learn it in: Rainfall (Grade 2), Rainfall measurement (Grade 3)
rain gauge
From Grade 2
a tool that collects rain to measure it
Learn it in: Rainfall (Grade 2), Weather instruments (Grade 2), Rainfall measurement (Grade 3)
rainfall
From Grade 2
how much rain falls
Learn it in: Rainfall (Grade 2), Rainfall measurement (Grade 3)
bar graph
From Grade 2
a chart with bars to show amounts
Learn it in: Weather records (Grade 2), Recording results (Grade 3), Tables and graphs (Grade 4)
hibernate
From Grade 2
to sleep through a harsh season
Learn it in: Weather and living things (Grade 2), Animal adaptations (Grade 3)
hazard
From Grade 2
something that can cause harm
Learn it in: Weather safety (Grade 2), Electrical safety (Grade 2), Electricity in everyday life (Grade 4)
sunburn
From Grade 2
sore red skin from too much sun
Learn it in: Weather safety (Grade 2), The Sun (Grade 4)
Grade 3
igneous
From Grade 3
rock formed from cooled melted rock
Learn it in: Rocks (Grade 3), Rock formation introduction (Grade 4)
metamorphic
From Grade 3
rock changed by heat and pressure
Learn it in: Rocks (Grade 3), Rock formation introduction (Grade 4)
rock
From Grade 3
a hard natural solid made of minerals
Learn it in: Rocks (Grade 3), Rocks and minerals (Grade 4)
sedimentary
From Grade 3
rock formed from layers of settled material
Learn it in: Rocks (Grade 3), Rock formation introduction (Grade 4)
hardness
From Grade 3
how hard a material is
Learn it in: Rock properties (Grade 3), Rock properties (Grade 4)
impermeable
From Grade 3
not letting water in
Learn it in: Rock properties (Grade 3), Rock properties (Grade 4)
permeable
From Grade 3
letting water soak in
Learn it in: Rock properties (Grade 3), Rock properties (Grade 4)
topsoil
From Grade 3
the dark upper layer of soil
Learn it in: Soil (Grade 3), Soil formation (Grade 4)
weathering
From Grade 3
slow breaking of rock into smaller pieces
Learn it in: Soil (Grade 3), Weathering (Grade 4)
humus
From Grade 3
rotted plant and animal matter
Learn it in: Soil components (Grade 3), Soil formation (Grade 4)
groundwater
From Grade 3
water stored under the ground
Learn it in: Water movement through soil (Grade 3), Hydrosphere (Grade 5)
infiltration
From Grade 3
water soaking into the ground
Learn it in: Water movement through soil (Grade 3), Water cycle (Grade 5)
runoff
From Grade 3
water flowing over the surface
Learn it in: Water movement through soil (Grade 3), Water cycle (Grade 5)
erosion
From Grade 3
the carrying away of soil or rock
Learn it in: Soil erosion (Grade 3), Erosion (Grade 4), Plants and environmental sustainability (Grade 5)
terrace
From Grade 3
a flat step cut into a slope
Learn it in: Soil conservation (Grade 3), Earth conservation (Grade 4)
cloud cover
From Grade 3
how much of the sky is covered by cloud
Learn it in: Weather observations (Grade 3)
air temperature
From Grade 3
how warm or cold the air is
Learn it in: Temperature measurement (Grade 3)
tilt
From Grade 3
a lean to one side
Learn it in: Seasonal patterns (Grade 3), Earth’s revolution (Grade 5)
wet season
From Grade 3
the part of the year with lots of rain
Learn it in: Seasonal patterns (Grade 3)
drought
From Grade 3
a long time with little rain
Learn it in: Weather and farming (Grade 3), Environmental changes (Grade 4), Plant adaptations (Grade 5)
Grade 4
crystal
From Grade 4
a mineral with flat shiny faces
Learn it in: Rocks and minerals (Grade 4), Evaporation and separation (Grade 5), Solids (Grade 6)
density
From Grade 4
how heavy a material is for its size
Learn it in: Rock properties (Grade 4), Structural materials (Grade 5), Matter (Grade 6)
magma
From Grade 4
molten rock under the ground
Learn it in: Rock formation introduction (Grade 4), Geosphere (Grade 5)
sediment
From Grade 4
small bits of rock and soil carried by water or wind
barrier
From Grade 4
something built to stop water or land moving
Learn it in: Water and land changes (Grade 4)
natural resource
From Grade 4
something from nature that people use
Learn it in: Natural resources (Grade 4), Natural resources (Grade 6)
non-renewable
From Grade 4
will run out one day
Learn it in: Natural resources (Grade 4), Energy conservation (Grade 5), Non-renewable resources (Grade 6)
reforestation
From Grade 4
planting trees where forests have been cut
Learn it in: Earth conservation (Grade 4), Conservation (Grade 6)
atmosphere
From Grade 4
the layer of gases around Earth
Learn it in: Earth as a planet (Grade 4), Earth’s major systems (Grade 5), Atmosphere (Grade 5)
orbit
From Grade 4
the path around another object
Learn it in: Earth as a planet (Grade 4), Planets (Grade 5), Earth’s revolution (Grade 5)
planet
From Grade 4
a large body that orbits a star
Learn it in: Earth as a planet (Grade 4), Planets (Grade 5)
solar energy
From Grade 4
energy from the Sun
Learn it in: The Sun (Grade 4), Renewable resources (Grade 6)
solar system
From Grade 4
the Sun and the objects that orbit it
crater
From Grade 4
a bowl-shaped dent on the Moon
Learn it in: The Moon (Grade 4), Inner planets (Grade 5), The Moon (Grade 5)
satellite
From Grade 4
an object that orbits a planet
Learn it in: The Moon (Grade 4), The Moon (Grade 5), Gravity in the Solar System (Grade 5)
revolution
From Grade 4
one trip around the Sun
Learn it in: Earth’s rotation (Grade 4), Earth’s revolution (Grade 5), Earth’s revolution (Grade 6)
rotation
From Grade 4
spinning around an axis
Learn it in: Earth’s rotation (Grade 4), Earth’s rotation (Grade 5), Earth’s rotation (Grade 6)
azimuth
From Grade 4
the compass direction of an object
Learn it in: Apparent movement of the Sun (Grade 4)
noon
From Grade 4
midday, when the Sun is highest
Learn it in: Apparent movement of the Sun (Grade 4), Day and night (Grade 6)
gnomon
From Grade 4
the stick that casts a sundial shadow
Learn it in: Shadows during the day (Grade 4)
sundial
From Grade 4
a clock that uses a shadow to show time
Learn it in: Shadows during the day (Grade 4)
phase
From Grade 4
the shape of the lit part of the Moon we see
Learn it in: Moon observations (Grade 4), Moon phases (Grade 5), Moon phases (Grade 6)
diameter
From Grade 4
the distance across a circle through the centre
Learn it in: Models of Earth and Moon (Grade 4)
limitation
From Grade 4
a way a model is not accurate
Learn it in: Models of Earth and Moon (Grade 4), Scientific conclusions (Grade 6), Presenting engineering solutions (Grade 6)
eclipse
From Grade 4
when one object blocks light from another
Learn it in: Earth–Sun–Moon relationships (Grade 4), Moon phases (Grade 6)
lunar eclipse
From Grade 4
Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon
Learn it in: Earth–Sun–Moon relationships (Grade 4)
solar eclipse
From Grade 4
the Moon blocks the Sun’s light
Learn it in: Earth–Sun–Moon relationships (Grade 4)
tide
From Grade 4
the rise and fall of the sea
Learn it in: Earth–Sun–Moon relationships (Grade 4), The Moon (Grade 5), The Moon (Grade 6)
Grade 5
hydrosphere
From Grade 5
all the water on Earth
Learn it in: Earth’s major systems (Grade 5), Hydrosphere (Grade 5)
system
From Grade 5
parts that work together
Learn it in: Earth’s major systems (Grade 5), Human body systems (Grade 6)
biome
From Grade 5
a large region with similar climate and life
Learn it in: Biosphere (Grade 5), Climate patterns (Grade 6)
nutrient cycle
From Grade 5
the movement of nutrients through living and non-living things
Learn it in: Biosphere (Grade 5)
collection
From Grade 5
where water gathers such as oceans and lakes
Learn it in: Water cycle (Grade 5)
water cycle
From Grade 5
the continuous movement of water on, above and below Earth
Learn it in: Water cycle (Grade 5)
dew point
From Grade 5
the temperature at which vapour condenses
Learn it in: Evaporation and condensation (Grade 5)
humidity
From Grade 5
how much water vapour is in the air
Learn it in: Evaporation and condensation (Grade 5)
saturated air
From Grade 5
air holding all the vapour it can
Learn it in: Evaporation and condensation (Grade 5)
monsoon
From Grade 5
a seasonal wind that brings heavy rain
Learn it in: Precipitation (Grade 5), Climate patterns (Grade 6)
catchment
From Grade 5
land that collects rain for a river or lake
Learn it in: Water distribution (Grade 5)
climate change
From Grade 5
long-term change in Earth’s climate
Learn it in: Human effects on Earth systems (Grade 5), Climate change (Grade 6)
greenhouse gas
From Grade 5
a gas that traps heat in the atmosphere
Learn it in: Human effects on Earth systems (Grade 5), Greenhouse effect introduction (Grade 6), Earth and space review (Grade 6)
restoration
From Grade 5
repairing damaged environments
Learn it in: Human effects on Earth systems (Grade 5), Ecosystem conservation (Grade 5)
fusion
From Grade 5
joining of tiny particles to release energy
Learn it in: The Sun as a star (Grade 5)
light-year
From Grade 5
the distance light travels in one year
Learn it in: The Sun as a star (Grade 5)
sunspot
From Grade 5
a cooler dark patch on the Sun
Learn it in: The Sun as a star (Grade 5), The Sun (Grade 6)
dwarf planet
From Grade 5
a small round world that shares its path with other objects
Learn it in: Planets (Grade 5), Earth in the Solar System (Grade 6)
gas giant
From Grade 5
a huge planet made mostly of hydrogen and helium
Learn it in: Outer planets (Grade 5)
ice giant
From Grade 5
a planet rich in water, ammonia and methane ices
Learn it in: Outer planets (Grade 5)
time zone
From Grade 5
a region sharing the same clock time
Learn it in: Earth’s rotation (Grade 5), Earth’s rotation (Grade 6)
leap year
From Grade 5
a year with an extra day
Learn it in: Earth’s revolution (Grade 5), Earth’s revolution (Grade 6)
escape velocity
From Grade 5
the speed needed to leave a planet
Learn it in: Gravity in the Solar System (Grade 5)
Grade 6
astronomical unit
From Grade 6
the average Earth–Sun distance, about 150 million km
Learn it in: Earth in the Solar System (Grade 6)
galaxy
From Grade 6
a huge group of stars, gas and dust
Learn it in: Earth in the Solar System (Grade 6)
habitable zone
From Grade 6
the region where liquid water can exist
Learn it in: Earth in the Solar System (Grade 6)
giant impact hypothesis
From Grade 6
the idea that a Mars-sized body hit Earth to form the Moon
Learn it in: The Moon (Grade 6)
star trail
From Grade 6
a circular streak made by stars in a long photo
Learn it in: Earth’s rotation (Grade 6)
aphelion
From Grade 6
the point in an orbit farthest from the Sun
Learn it in: Earth’s revolution (Grade 6)
perihelion
From Grade 6
the point in an orbit closest to the Sun
Learn it in: Earth’s revolution (Grade 6)
midnight sun
From Grade 6
the Sun staying up all day near the poles in summer
Learn it in: Day and night (Grade 6)
rover
From Grade 6
a vehicle that travels on a planet’s surface
Learn it in: Space exploration (Grade 6)