Glossary: Terms Starting with B

71 definitions with links to the lessons that teach each word.

background

English

the part furthest away

Learn it in: Describing images (Grade 2), Introductions (Grade 5), Introductions (Grade 6)

backwards

Maths

In the direction numbers get smaller.

Learn it in: Counting forwards and backwards (Grade 1)

balance

Maths

A scale that compares mass.

Learn it in: Mass (Grade 2), Simple equations (Grade 6)

balanced

Science

having a good mix

Learn it in: Healthy food (Grade 1)

bar graph

Maths

A graph that uses bars.

Learn it in: Bar graphs (Grade 2), Scaled bar graphs (Grade 3), Bar graphs (Grade 4)

bar model

Maths

A bar divided into equal boxes.

Learn it in: Multiplication using pictures (Grade 2), Division using pictures (Grade 2), Fraction word problems (Grade 4)

bark

English

the sound of a dog or the outside of a tree

Learn it in: Multiple-meaning words (Grade 3)

bark

Science

the hard outside of a tree trunk

Learn it in: Stems (Grade 1)

base

English

a word part that carries the core meaning

Learn it in: Morphology (Grade 5)

base

Maths

The number multiplied.

Learn it in: Powers of ten (Grade 5), Area of triangles (Grade 6), Area of parallelograms (Grade 6)

base word

English

a word before an ending is added

Learn it in: Inflectional endings (Grade 2), Common prefixes (Grade 2), Prefixes and suffixes (Grade 3)

baseline

Maths

The 0° line.

Learn it in: Measuring angles (Grade 4)

basic fact

Maths

A fact like 3 × 4.

Learn it in: Multiplying by multiples of ten (Grade 3), Multiplying by multiples of ten (Grade 4), Division using place value (Grade 4)

bat

English

an animal that flies, or a stick used in a game

Learn it in: Multiple-meaning words (Grade 1), Multiple-meaning words (Grade 3)

bathe

Science

to wash the whole body with water and soap

Learn it in: Personal hygiene (Grade 1)

battery

Science

a small power store inside a torch

Learn it in: Artificial light sources (Grade 1)

beat

English

one part of a word

Learn it in: Recognising syllables (Grade 1), Nursery rhymes (Grade 1), Syllable division (Grade 2)

because

English

a word that gives a reason

Learn it in: Expressing opinions (Grade 2), Character motivations (Grade 3), Supporting opinions with reasons (Grade 3)

because

Maths

Gives a reason.

Learn it in: Explaining solutions (Grade 6)

because

Science

a word that gives a reason

Learn it in: Explaining results (Grade 2)

before

English

in the past

Learn it in: Action words (Grade 1), Describing words (Grade 1)

before

Maths

Comes earlier in counting. 4 is before 5.

Learn it in: Ordering numbers (Grade 1)

begin

English

start

Learn it in: Letter names and sounds (Grade 1), Consonant blends (Grade 1), Capital letters (Grade 1)

beginning

English

the start

Learn it in: Identifying beginning sounds (Grade 1), Beginning, middle, and end (Grade 1), Story sequencing (Grade 2)

beginning blend

English

a blend at the start, like st in stop

Learn it in: Reviewing consonant blends (Grade 2)

belong

English

fit in a group

Learn it in: Word categories (Grade 1)

benchmark

Maths

A known size you compare with.

Learn it in: Estimating measurements (Grade 2), Estimation (Grade 3), Ordering fractions (Grade 4)

benchmark fraction

Maths

1/2, 1/4, 3/4 …

Learn it in: Fractions and decimals (Grade 4)

best buy

Maths

The cheaper deal per item.

Learn it in: Practical shopping problems (Grade 3)

better buy

Maths

Lower cost per unit.

Learn it in: Comparing quantities (Grade 6)

between

Maths

In the middle of two numbers. 5 is between 4 and 6.

Learn it in: Ordering numbers (Grade 1), Ordering numbers (Grade 1), Spatial reasoning (Grade 2)

bias

English

favouring one side unfairly

Learn it in: Source reliability (Grade 4), Facts and opinions (Grade 5), Evaluating source usefulness (Grade 5)

bias

Maths

An unfair slant.

Learn it in: Drawing conclusions (Grade 5), Collecting data (Grade 6)

biased

English

favouring one side unfairly

Learn it in: Facts and opinions (Grade 4)

bibliography

English

a list of sources at the end

Learn it in: Research reports (Grade 4)

bigger number

Maths

The number that is greater.

Learn it in: Counting-on strategies (Grade 1)

biggest

Maths

The largest number.

Learn it in: Ordering numbers (Grade 2)

bimodal

Maths

Two modes.

Learn it in: Mode (Grade 6)

bin

Maths

A group.

Learn it in: Histograms (Grade 6)

bin

Science

a container for rubbish

Learn it in: Keeping our environment clean (Grade 1)

bio

English

Greek for life

Learn it in: Greek and Latin roots (Grade 6)

biography

English

the story of a real person’s life

Learn it in: Chronological organisation (Grade 4)

birth

Science

the start of an animal’s life

Learn it in: Life cycles (Grade 2)

blend

English

push sounds together

Learn it in: Blending spoken phonemes (Grade 1), Consonant–vowel–consonant words (Grade 1), Blending sounds into words (Grade 1)

block

Science

to stop something from passing

Learn it in: Shadows (Grade 1)

block method

English

writing about one subject then the other

Learn it in: Compare-and-contrast writing (Grade 6)

body language

English

the messages your body sends

Learn it in: Active listening (Grade 5)

body paragraph

English

a paragraph that develops one point

Learn it in: Informational reports (Grade 4), Essay structure (Grade 5), Essay organisation (Grade 6)

boil

Science

to heat water until it bubbles (an adult does this)

Learn it in: Drinking clean water (Grade 1)

born

Science

come out of the mother’s body alive

Learn it in: Animal offspring (Grade 2)

borrow

Maths

Take one from the next place.

Learn it in: Subtraction with regrouping (Grade 3), Large-number subtraction (Grade 4)

borrowed word

English

a word taken from another language

Learn it in: Word origins (Grade 5), Word origins (Grade 6)

both

English

the two of them

Learn it in: Comparing stories (Grade 2), Compare and contrast (Grade 3), Comparing literary works (Grade 5)

bounce

Science

to spring back after hitting something

Learn it in: Moving objects (Grade 1)

brackets

English

marks that enclose extra information

Learn it in: Punctuation and editing (Grade 5)

brainstorm

English

to collect many ideas quickly

Learn it in: Story planning (Grade 4), Creative expression (Grade 5), Narrative planning (Grade 6)

brave

English

ready to face danger or fear

Learn it in: Character traits (Grade 3)

break apart

Maths

Split into parts.

Learn it in: Representing two-digit numbers (Grade 1)

breathe

Science

to take air in and let air out

Learn it in: Characteristics of living things (Grade 1)

breeze

Science

a gentle wind

Learn it in: Windy weather (Grade 1)

bridge

Maths

Jump to the next ten first.

Learn it in: Addition within 100 (Grade 2)

brief

English

short

Learn it in: Summarising spoken information (Grade 3)

bright

Science

giving a lot of light

Learn it in: Functions of the senses (Grade 1), What is light (Grade 1)

bring down

Maths

Move the next digit.

Learn it in: Dividing larger numbers (Grade 4)

bud

Science

a flower that has not opened yet

Learn it in: Flowers (Grade 1)

budget

Maths

The money you plan to spend.

Learn it in: Practical shopping problems (Grade 3), Applying mathematics to real situations (Grade 6)

build

English

put together

Learn it in: Consonant–vowel–consonant words (Grade 1)

build on

English

add to what someone said

Learn it in: Participating in discussions (Grade 2), Participating in discussions (Grade 3), Structured discussions (Grade 4)

bundle

Maths

Things tied or grouped together.

Learn it in: Grouping objects into tens (Grade 1)

burrow

Science

a hole in the ground where an animal lives

Learn it in: Animal shelters (Grade 1)

by heart

English

so you know it without sounding out

Learn it in: Common irregular words (Grade 1)

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