Glossary: Terms Starting with C
125 definitions in Science with links to the lessons that teach each word.
Showing Science only. Show all subjects
camouflage
ScienceFrom Grade 2
colours or patterns that help an animal hide
Learn it in: Animals in habitats (Grade 2), Animal adaptations (Grade 3)
capillary
ScienceFrom Grade 5
a tiny vessel linking arteries and veins
Learn it in: Circulatory system (Grade 5), The circulatory system (Grade 6)
carbohydrate
ScienceFrom Grade 3
food that gives energy
Learn it in: Nutrition (Grade 3), Nutrition and health (Grade 5)
carbon cycle
ScienceFrom Grade 5
the movement of carbon through air, life and soil
Learn it in: Matter cycling introduction (Grade 5)
carbon dioxide
ScienceFrom Grade 3
a gas we breathe out
Learn it in: The lungs (Grade 3), Gas exchange introduction (Grade 5)
carbon store
ScienceFrom Grade 5
something that holds carbon
Learn it in: Plants and environmental sustainability (Grade 5)
care
ScienceFrom Grade 1
to look after something
Learn it in: Caring for living things (Grade 1), Caring for plants (Grade 1), Animal care (Grade 2)
careful
ScienceFrom Grade 1
paying attention so nothing goes wrong
Learn it in: Science safety rules (Grade 1)
carnivore
ScienceFrom Grade 1
an animal that eats other animals
Learn it in: Animal food (Grade 1), Consumers (Grade 3), Producers and consumers (Grade 4)
catchment
ScienceFrom Grade 5
land that collects rain for a river or lake
Learn it in: Water distribution (Grade 5)
caterpillar
ScienceFrom Grade 2
the feeding young stage of a butterfly
Learn it in: Butterfly life cycle (Grade 2)
cell
ScienceFrom Grade 4
a single unit that gives electrical energy
Learn it in: Cells and batteries (Grade 4), Human body organisation (Grade 5), Electrical energy (Grade 5)
cell division
ScienceFrom Grade 6
a cell splitting to make new cells
Learn it in: Cells as basic units of life (Grade 6)
cell membrane
ScienceFrom Grade 6
the thin layer that controls what enters and leaves
Learn it in: Animal cells (Grade 6)
cell theory
ScienceFrom Grade 6
the idea that all living things are made of cells
Learn it in: Cells as basic units of life (Grade 6)
cement
ScienceFrom Grade 2
a grey powder that becomes hard when mixed with water
Learn it in: Science in construction (Grade 2)
centimetre
ScienceFrom Grade 2
a unit of length; 100 make one metre
Learn it in: Measuring using simple tools (Grade 2)
centre of gravity
ScienceFrom Grade 5
the point where weight seems to act
Learn it in: Strength and stability (Grade 5)
change
ScienceFrom Grade 1
to become different
Learn it in: Growth and change (Grade 1), Weather changes (Grade 1), Asking investigable questions (Grade 2)
chemical change
ScienceFrom Grade 4
a change that makes new substances
Learn it in: Reversible changes (Grade 4), Physical and chemical changes introduction (Grade 6)
chemical energy
ScienceFrom Grade 5
energy stored in food and fuels
Learn it in: Forms of energy (Grade 5)
chemical reaction
ScienceFrom Grade 5
a change that makes new substances
Learn it in: Reversible and irreversible changes (Grade 5)
chirp
ScienceFrom Grade 1
a short, high sound made by small birds and insects
Learn it in: Animal sounds (Grade 1)
chlorophyll
ScienceFrom Grade 3
the green material in leaves
Learn it in: Leaf functions (Grade 3), Photosynthesis introduction (Grade 5)
chloroplast
ScienceFrom Grade 6
part that captures light for photosynthesis
Learn it in: Plant cells (Grade 6)
chromatography
ScienceFrom Grade 5
separating coloured substances on paper
Learn it in: Evaporation and separation (Grade 5)
circuit
ScienceFrom Grade 4
a complete path for electricity
Learn it in: Simple circuit components (Grade 4), Electrical energy (Grade 5), Simple circuits (Grade 6)
circuit breaker
ScienceFrom Grade 6
a switch that trips if current is too high
Learn it in: Electrical safety (Grade 6)
circulation
ScienceFrom Grade 6
movement of blood around the body
Learn it in: Human body systems (Grade 6)
claim
ScienceFrom Grade 5
a statement of what you found
Learn it in: Scientific explanations (Grade 5), Scientific reasoning (Grade 6)
classification
ScienceFrom Grade 6
sorting living things into groups
Learn it in: Life science review (Grade 6)
classify
ScienceFrom Grade 3
to sort into groups
Learn it in: Classifying animals (Grade 3), Classification of organisms (Grade 6)
clean
ScienceFrom Grade 1
free from dirt
Learn it in: Clean and dirty environments (Grade 1), Clean water (Grade 2)
clean water
ScienceFrom Grade 1
water that is safe to drink
Learn it in: Drinking clean water (Grade 1)
clear
ScienceFrom Grade 2
easy to see through
Learn it in: Properties of liquids (Grade 2), Transparent materials (Grade 4)
climate
ScienceFrom Grade 6
the average weather of a place over about 30 years
Learn it in: Weather and climate (Grade 6)
climate change
ScienceFrom Grade 5
long-term change in Earth’s climate
Learn it in: Human effects on Earth systems (Grade 5), Climate change (Grade 6)
clinic
ScienceFrom Grade 2
a place where people get health care
Learn it in: Science in health (Grade 2)
closed circuit
ScienceFrom Grade 4
a complete loop where current flows
Learn it in: Open and closed circuits (Grade 4), Simple circuits (Grade 6)
cloud
ScienceFrom Grade 1
a mass of tiny water drops in the sky
Learn it in: Cloudy weather (Grade 1), Clouds (Grade 2), Condensation (Grade 4)
cloud cover
ScienceFrom Grade 3
how much of the sky is covered by cloud
Learn it in: Weather observations (Grade 3)
cochlea
ScienceFrom Grade 4
a coiled tube that turns vibrations into signals
Learn it in: Hearing (Grade 4)
cold-blooded
ScienceFrom Grade 3
body temperature changes with surroundings
Learn it in: Reptiles (Grade 3), Vertebrates (Grade 6)
collection
ScienceFrom Grade 5
where water gathers such as oceans and lakes
Learn it in: Water cycle (Grade 5)
colour
ScienceFrom Grade 1
how a thing looks, such as red, blue or green
Learn it in: Describing colours, shapes and sizes (Grade 1)
community
ScienceFrom Grade 3
all the living things in an ecosystem
Learn it in: Ecosystems introduction (Grade 3), Ecosystems (Grade 4), Ecosystems (Grade 5)
compare
ScienceFrom Grade 1
to look at two things and say how they are the same and different
Learn it in: Comparing objects (Grade 1), Making simple predictions (Grade 2), Comparing objects (Grade 2)
compass
ScienceFrom Grade 3
a tool with a magnetic needle that shows direction
Learn it in: Magnetic poles (Grade 3), Magnetic fields introduction (Grade 6)
competition
ScienceFrom Grade 3
when living things need the same resource
Learn it in: Animal feeding relationships (Grade 3), Interdependence (Grade 4), Ecosystem relationships (Grade 6)
complete change
ScienceFrom Grade 2
a big change in body shape during growth
Learn it in: Comparing life cycles (Grade 2)
component
ScienceFrom Grade 4
a part of a circuit
Learn it in: Simple circuit components (Grade 4), Circuit components (Grade 6)
compost
ScienceFrom Grade 1
rotted plant waste that feeds the soil
Learn it in: Proper waste disposal (Grade 1), Soil and plant growth (Grade 3), Decomposers (Grade 4)
compound
ScienceFrom Grade 6
two or more elements joined chemically
Learn it in: Matter review (Grade 6)
compress
ScienceFrom Grade 3
to squeeze into a smaller space
Learn it in: Gases (Grade 3), Solids, liquids, and gases (Grade 4), Solids, liquids, and gases (Grade 5)
conclusion
ScienceFrom Grade 2
what the results tell us
Learn it in: Explaining results (Grade 2), Drawing conclusions (Grade 3), Recording results (Grade 3)
concrete
ScienceFrom Grade 4
a hard mixture of cement, sand, stone and water
Learn it in: Materials for construction (Grade 4)
condensation
ScienceFrom Grade 4
a gas changing to a liquid
Full explanation with examples and practice →
Learn it in: Condensation (Grade 4), Changes of state (Grade 6)
conditions
ScienceFrom Grade 2
what is around something and affects it
Learn it in: Seed germination (Grade 2)
conduction
ScienceFrom Grade 5
heat moving through a solid
Learn it in: Energy transfer (Grade 5), Heat transfer (Grade 6)
conductor
ScienceFrom Grade 4
a material that lets electricity pass
Learn it in: Conductors and insulators (Grade 4), Properties of matter (Grade 5), Conductors (Grade 6)
conifer
ScienceFrom Grade 6
a plant that makes seeds in cones
Learn it in: Flowering and non-flowering plants (Grade 6)
conservation
ScienceFrom Grade 1
looking after nature
Learn it in: Protecting animals (Grade 1), Habitat protection (Grade 2), Soil conservation (Grade 3)
conservation of energy
ScienceFrom Grade 5
energy cannot be created or destroyed
Learn it in: Energy conservation (Grade 5), Energy transformation (Grade 6)
conserve
ScienceFrom Grade 2
to save and use carefully
Learn it in: Water conservation (Grade 2), Energy conservation (Grade 2)
constraint
ScienceFrom Grade 3
a limit on what we can use or do
Learn it in: Identifying practical problems (Grade 3), Engineering design (Grade 4), Identifying problems (Grade 5)
consumer
ScienceFrom Grade 2
an animal that eats other living things
Learn it in: Food and shelter (Grade 2), Consumers (Grade 3), Producers and consumers (Grade 4)
contact force
ScienceFrom Grade 3
a force that needs touching
Learn it in: Contact forces (Grade 3), Forces (Grade 6)
container
ScienceFrom Grade 2
something that holds a material
Learn it in: Comparing solids and liquids (Grade 2), Liquids (Grade 3)
contract
ScienceFrom Grade 4
to get shorter and tighter
Learn it in: Muscles (Grade 4), Muscular system (Grade 5)
control
ScienceFrom Grade 2
the cup where nothing is changed
Learn it in: Conditions affecting plant growth (Grade 2), Introduction to fair tests (Grade 3), Plant growth requirements (Grade 3)
control variable
ScienceFrom Grade 6
a variable you keep the same
Learn it in: Scientific investigation review (Grade 6)
controlled variable
ScienceFrom Grade 4
a thing we keep the same
Learn it in: Identifying variables (Grade 4), Variables (Grade 5), Controlled variables (Grade 6)
convection
ScienceFrom Grade 5
heat moving in a fluid
Learn it in: Energy transfer (Grade 5), Heat transfer (Grade 6)
converging
ScienceFrom Grade 6
bending light rays toward each other
Learn it in: Refraction introduction (Grade 6)
cook
ScienceFrom Grade 2
to heat food to make it ready to eat
Learn it in: Science in cooking (Grade 2)
core
ScienceFrom Grade 4
the muscles of the trunk that support the spine
Learn it in: Posture (Grade 4)
cotton
ScienceFrom Grade 1
a soft plant fibre used to make cloth
Learn it in: Uses of plants (Grade 1), Fabric (Grade 1)
crater
ScienceFrom Grade 4
a bowl-shaped dent on the Moon
Learn it in: The Moon (Grade 4), Inner planets (Grade 5), The Moon (Grade 5)
criteria
ScienceFrom Grade 2
what a good solution must do
Learn it in: Simple design project (Grade 2), Identifying practical problems (Grade 3), Engineering design (Grade 4)
crop
ScienceFrom Grade 1
a plant that farmers grow for food
Learn it in: Plants in our environment (Grade 1), Weather and farming (Grade 3)
crumple zone
ScienceFrom Grade 6
a part of a car that collapses to absorb impact
Learn it in: Practical applications (Grade 6)
crystal
ScienceFrom Grade 4
a mineral with flat shiny faces
Learn it in: Rocks and minerals (Grade 4), Evaporation and separation (Grade 5), Solids (Grade 6)
current
ScienceFrom Grade 4
the flow of electricity
Learn it in: Open and closed circuits (Grade 4), Electrical energy (Grade 5), Electrical energy (Grade 6)
cushion
ScienceFrom Grade 1
a soft pillow for sitting or leaning on
Learn it in: Hard and soft materials (Grade 1)
cycle
ScienceFrom Grade 2
something that goes round and begins again
Learn it in: Plant life cycles (Grade 2)
cytoplasm
ScienceFrom Grade 6
jelly-like fluid where reactions happen
Learn it in: Basic cell structures (Grade 6)