Glossary: Terms Starting with A
73 definitions in Social Studies with links to the lessons that teach each word.
Showing Social Studies only. Show all subjects
All terms starting with A
ability
Social StudiesFrom Grade 1
something you can do
Learn it in: My abilities and strengths (Grade 1)
abolition
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
the official ending of something, such as the slave trade
Learn it in: Enslavement and the transatlantic slave trade (Grade 5)
absolute location
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
the exact position of a place, often given by coordinates
Learn it in: Locating our country (Grade 3)
access
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
the ability to reach or use something
Learn it in: Transportation (Grade 3), Public services (Grade 4)
accessibility
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
how easily people can reach places and services
Learn it in: Transportation networks (Grade 5), Inclusion and fairness (Grade 5)
account
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
a telling or description of an event
Learn it in: Comparing accounts (Grade 4)
accountability
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
being answerable for what you do, especially in a position of power
Learn it in: Accountability (Grade 5), Accountability and rule of law (Grade 6), Government and citizenship review (Grade 6)
accountable
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
having to explain your actions to others
Learn it in: Leadership (Grade 3), Leadership and accountability (Grade 4)
accuracy
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
being correct and exact
Learn it in: National map project (Grade 3)
accurate
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
correct and free from mistakes
Learn it in: Secondary sources introduction (Grade 3), Creating regional maps (Grade 3)
achievement
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
something important that a person has done well
Learn it in: Community founders and historical figures (Grade 3)
acknowledge
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
to give credit to the people who helped
Learn it in: Cultural heritage project (Grade 3), Historical enquiry project (Grade 4)
act
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
a law that has been passed and approved
Learn it in: Lawmaking (Grade 5)
action
Social StudiesFrom Grade 1
something you do
Learn it in: Improving our school (Grade 1), Collaborative action project (Grade 2), Responsible action (Grade 3)
action plan
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
a list of steps saying who will do what and when
Learn it in: Preparing recommendations (Grade 5)
adapt
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
to change to fit a place or situation
Learn it in: Adaptation to places (Grade 2), Environmental influences (Grade 4)
adaptation
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
changing something to suit a new place or need
Learn it in: Cultural exchange (Grade 5), Climate change and society (Grade 6)
administration
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
the work of running a place
Learn it in: Administrative regions (Grade 3), Colonialism and its historical contexts (Grade 5), Empires and states (Grade 6)
advantage
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
a helpful or positive feature
Learn it in: Advantages and challenges of different settlements (Grade 3)
advertisement
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
a message designed to promote a product, service or idea
Learn it in: Advertising and persuasion (Grade 6)
advocacy
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
speaking or acting in support of a cause
Learn it in: Planning responsible action (Grade 5), Civic participation (Grade 6)
afford
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
to have enough money to pay for
Learn it in: Needs before wants (Grade 2)
Africa
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
the continent where Sierra Leone is
Learn it in: Continents introduction (Grade 2)
African Union
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
the continental organisation of African states founded in 2002 and based in Addis Ababa
Learn it in: Regional cooperation (Grade 6), African Union introduction (Grade 6)
agenda
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
a list of items to be discussed at a meeting
Learn it in: Model community council (Grade 4)
Agenda 2063
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
the AU’s long-term plan for Africa’s growth and unity over fifty years
Learn it in: African Union introduction (Grade 6)
agree
Social StudiesFrom Grade 1
to think or decide the same
Learn it in: Respect and cooperation (Grade 1), Listening to different opinions (Grade 2)
agriculture
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
growing crops and raising animals
Learn it in: Agriculture (Grade 3)
agroforestry
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
growing trees together with crops or animals
Learn it in: Deforestation (Grade 4), Agriculture and land use (Grade 5), Deforestation (Grade 6)
allocate
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
to share out resources for particular uses
Learn it in: Resource-allocation activity (Grade 4)
alphabet
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
a set of letters that stand for sounds
Learn it in: Writing and recordkeeping (Grade 4)
alternative
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
another option you could choose
Learn it in: Opportunity cost (Grade 6)
altitude
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
how high a place is above the sea
Learn it in: Mountain communities (Grade 2), Mountains (Grade 4), Climate zones (Grade 6)
ambassador
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
a senior official who represents a country in another country
Learn it in: Peacebuilding and diplomacy (Grade 6)
ambulance
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
a vehicle that takes sick or hurt people to hospital
Learn it in: Public safety services (Grade 2)
amendment
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
a formal change made to a constitution or law
Learn it in: Constitutions introduction (Grade 5), Constitutions and laws (Grade 6)
analysis
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
careful examination of parts to understand the whole
Learn it in: Reasons people move (Grade 6)
ancestor
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
a family member who lived long ago
Learn it in: Meaning of heritage (Grade 2)
ancient
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
from the earliest civilisations until about 500 CE
Learn it in: Historical periods (Grade 4)
animal
Social StudiesFrom Grade 1
a living thing that moves and eats
Learn it in: Caring for animals (Grade 1)
anonymous
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
without names, so answers cannot be linked to a person
Learn it in: Rights-based community enquiry (Grade 6)
anthem
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
a song that represents a country
Learn it in: National symbols (Grade 3)
apartment
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
a home in a building with many homes
Learn it in: Homes around the world (Grade 2)
apology
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
saying sorry and meaning it
Learn it in: Peaceful conflict resolution (Grade 3)
appeal
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
a request for a higher court to review a decision
Learn it in: Courts and justice systems (Grade 6)
appreciate
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
to value and be thankful for
Learn it in: Appreciating different occupations (Grade 2), Cultural diversity (Grade 3)
apprentice
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
a learner who studies a craft by working with a skilled person
Learn it in: Cultural and technological developments (Grade 5)
archaeologist
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
a scientist who studies the past from objects and remains
Learn it in: Historical artefacts (Grade 3), Early human societies (Grade 4), Early communities in our region (Grade 5)
archaeology
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
the study of the past through objects and remains found in the ground
Learn it in: Early societies (Grade 6)
architecture
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
the design and building of structures such as houses and temples
Learn it in: Art and architecture (Grade 4), West African states and cultural centres (Grade 5)
archive
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
a collection of records and documents
Learn it in: Preserving heritage (Grade 2), Preserving community memories (Grade 2), Preserving historical evidence (Grade 3)
area symbol
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
a colour or pattern for a large area
Learn it in: Map symbols (Grade 2)
art
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
creative work such as painting, carving or weaving
Learn it in: Music and art (Grade 2), Traditional arts (Grade 3), Art and architecture (Grade 4)
artefact
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
an object made by people in the past
Learn it in: Primary sources (Grade 3), Historical artefacts (Grade 3), Early human societies (Grade 4)
ask
Social StudiesFrom Grade 1
to say a question to get permission
Learn it in: Helping at home (Grade 1)
assembly
Social StudiesFrom Grade 1
a meeting of the whole school
Learn it in: School routines (Grade 1)
assent
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
formal approval by the President that makes a bill into law
Learn it in: Lawmaking (Grade 5)
assessment
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
a way of checking what has been learned
Learn it in: Final Grade 6 mastery assessment (Grade 6)
association
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
a group of people who join together for a shared purpose
Learn it in: Community organisation (Grade 3)
Atlantic
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
the ocean beside West Africa
Learn it in: Oceans introduction (Grade 2)
Atlantic world
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
the lands around the Atlantic Ocean linked by trade and travel
Learn it in: Atlantic connections (Grade 5)
atlas
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
a book of maps
Learn it in: National map project (Grade 3), Continents and oceans (Grade 6)
audience
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
the people who listen or read
Learn it in: Presenting findings (Grade 3), Presenting recommendations (Grade 3), Reading historical documents (Grade 4)
aunt
Social StudiesFrom Grade 1
your parent’s sister
Learn it in: Family members and caregivers (Grade 1)
author
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
the person who wrote or made something
Learn it in: Secondary sources introduction (Grade 3), Reading historical documents (Grade 4), Checking sources (Grade 6)
authority
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
the power or right to make decisions and give orders
Learn it in: Why societies create rules (Grade 4)
axis
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
the imaginary line through Earth from pole to pole around which it spins
Learn it in: Equator and hemispheres (Grade 6)