Glossary: Terms Starting with D
75 definitions in Social Studies with links to the lessons that teach each word.
Showing Social Studies only. Show all subjects
All terms starting with D
dam
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
a wall built across a river to hold back water
Learn it in: Human modification of landscapes (Grade 4)
damage
Social StudiesFrom Grade 1
harm that spoils something
Learn it in: Caring for school property (Grade 1), Shared spaces (Grade 1)
data
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
facts and numbers collected
Learn it in: Local economic investigation (Grade 3), Gathering evidence (Grade 5), Modern communication technologies (Grade 6)
death rate
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
the number of deaths per 1,000 people in a year
Learn it in: Population change (Grade 6)
debate
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
a structured discussion in which people give reasons for and against
Learn it in: Lawmaking (Grade 5)
debt
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
money that is owed to someone else
Learn it in: Responsible financial decisions (Grade 5)
decade
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
ten years
Learn it in: Historical timelines (Grade 2), What is local history? (Grade 3)
decipher
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
to work out the meaning of unknown writing
Learn it in: Indus Valley societies (Grade 4)
decision
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
a choice that is made
Learn it in: Community decision-making (Grade 2), Community decision-making (Grade 3), Reasons people move (Grade 6)
declaration
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
a formal statement of principles or intentions
Learn it in: Human rights introduction (Grade 6)
decline
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
change that makes things worse
Learn it in: Continuity and change (Grade 4), Historical continuity and change (Grade 6)
decolonisation
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
the process by which colonies became independent
Learn it in: Colonialism and independence (Grade 6)
decomposer
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
a living thing, like a fungus or bacterium, that breaks down dead plants and animals
Learn it in: Natural environments (Grade 4)
deforestation
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
clearing forests permanently
Learn it in: Forestry (Grade 3), Deforestation (Grade 4), Forestry (Grade 5)
degree
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
a unit used to measure angles and positions on Earth, shown as °
Learn it in: Latitude and longitude (Grade 6)
delivery
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
taking goods to where they are needed
Learn it in: Transportation of goods (Grade 2)
delta
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
low land formed where a river splits and drops soil near its mouth
Learn it in: Rivers (Grade 4)
demand
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
how much people want to buy a good
Learn it in: Markets (Grade 3), Supply and demand introduction (Grade 5), Markets and prices (Grade 6)
demand and supply
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
how much buyers want and how much sellers offer, which together influence price
Learn it in: Economics review (Grade 6)
democracy
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
a system in which citizens hold power, directly or through elected representatives
Learn it in: Forms of government (Grade 6)
densely populated
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
having many people in a small area
Learn it in: Population distribution (Grade 6)
density
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
how crowded a place is
Learn it in: Population and settlements (Grade 3), Population and community needs (Grade 3), Human settlement patterns (Grade 4)
deposit
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
money put into a bank account
Learn it in: Banking introduction (Grade 5)
descendant
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
a person who comes from earlier people in their family line
Learn it in: Early American civilisations (Grade 4)
describe
Social StudiesFrom Grade 1
to tell what someone or something is like
Learn it in: Who am I? (Grade 1)
desert
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
a very dry place with little rain
Learn it in: Adaptation to places (Grade 2), Deserts (Grade 4)
destination
Social StudiesFrom Grade 1
the place you want to reach
Learn it in: Finding places using maps (Grade 1)
dhow
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
a traditional sailing boat with a triangular sail
Learn it in: Indian Ocean trade networks (Grade 5)
dialect
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
a local form of a language
Learn it in: Languages (Grade 3), Language and communication (Grade 4), Languages and traditions (Grade 5)
dialogue
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
a conversation in which people listen and share ideas to understand one another
Learn it in: Intercultural dialogue (Grade 5)
diaspora
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
people who live outside their homeland but keep links to it
Learn it in: Historical migration (Grade 5), Migration and settlement (Grade 6), Africa’s global connections (Grade 6)
difference
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
how much more or less
Learn it in: Comparing prices (Grade 2), Differences in daily routines (Grade 2), Comparing past and present life (Grade 4)
different
Social StudiesFrom Grade 1
not the same
Learn it in: Similarities and differences among people (Grade 1), Learning about others (Grade 1), Community differences (Grade 2)
diffusion
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
the spread of ideas or technologies from one place to another
Learn it in: Technological developments (Grade 6)
digital citizen
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
a person who uses technology safely, kindly and responsibly
Learn it in: Responsible digital citizenship (Grade 6)
digital divide
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
the gap between people who can use technology and those who cannot
Learn it in: Communication technologies (Grade 5), Modern communication technologies (Grade 6)
digital footprint
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
the trail of information about a person left online
Learn it in: Responsible digital citizenship (Grade 6)
digitise
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
to make a digital copy
Learn it in: Preserving historical evidence (Grade 3)
dignity
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
being worthy of respect
Learn it in: Appreciating different occupations (Grade 2), Helping communities (Grade 2), Human dignity (Grade 6)
diplomacy
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
managing relations between countries through talks and agreements
Learn it in: Peacebuilding and diplomacy (Grade 6)
direction
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
where something is heading or located
Learn it in: Cardinal directions (Grade 3)
disagree
Social StudiesFrom Grade 1
to think differently
Learn it in: Resolving disagreements (Grade 1), Listening to different opinions (Grade 2)
discrimination
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
treating people unfairly because of who they are
Learn it in: Inclusion and fairness (Grade 5), Human dignity (Grade 6)
disinformation
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
false information shared deliberately to deceive
Learn it in: Misinformation (Grade 6)
dispersed
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
a settlement with buildings spread widely apart
Learn it in: Settlement patterns (Grade 4)
display
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
a way of showing work to others
Learn it in: Cultural heritage project (Grade 3), Heritage exhibition (Grade 4)
dispute settlement
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
a process for resolving disagreements over trade rules
Learn it in: International trade cooperation (Grade 6)
disruption
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
something that stops or interrupts a normal process
Learn it in: Economic interdependence (Grade 4)
distance
Social StudiesFrom Grade 1
how far apart things are
Learn it in: Near and far (Grade 1), Rural communities (Grade 2), Communication across distances (Grade 2)
distortion
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
a change in shape, size, distance or direction caused by flattening
Learn it in: Map projections introduction (Grade 6)
distribute
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
to deliver goods to many places
Learn it in: Transportation (Grade 4)
distribution
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
the way something is spread across an area
Learn it in: Population distribution (Grade 5), Population distribution (Grade 6), Resource distribution (Grade 6)
district
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
a smaller part of a region run by a local council
Learn it in: Administrative regions (Grade 3)
diversification
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
developing many kinds of economic activity instead of depending on a few
Learn it in: Contemporary African economies (Grade 6)
diversity
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
many different kinds of people and ideas
Learn it in: Respecting diversity (Grade 2), Cultural diversity (Grade 3), Cultural identity (Grade 4)
division of labour
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
different people doing different jobs
Learn it in: Social organisation (Grade 4), Trade and specialisation (Grade 6)
document
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
a written or printed record, such as a letter, notice or register
Learn it in: Reading historical documents (Grade 4)
documentation
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
recording information about something, such as in writing, pictures or sound
Learn it in: Cultural preservation (Grade 5)
domestication
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
changing wild plants and animals so they live with and serve people
Learn it in: Development of farming (Grade 4), Early societies (Grade 6)
donate
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
to give money or goods to help others
Learn it in: Responsible use of money (Grade 2), Helping communities (Grade 2)
donation
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
a gift of money or goods to help others
Learn it in: Responsible financial decisions (Grade 5)
draft
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
a first try
Learn it in: Drawing community maps (Grade 2), Creating regional maps (Grade 3)
drain
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
a channel that carries away waste water
Learn it in: Indus Valley societies (Grade 4)
drought
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
a long time with very little rain
Learn it in: Environmental influences (Grade 4), Water scarcity (Grade 6)
due process
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
fair legal procedures that must be followed
Learn it in: Courts and justice systems (Grade 6)
duty
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
something you ought to do
Learn it in: What are responsibilities? (Grade 2), Rights and responsibilities (Grade 6)
dynasty
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
a line of rulers from the same family
Learn it in: Ancient China (Grade 4)