Glossary: Terms Starting with M
67 definitions in Social Studies with links to the lessons that teach each word.
Showing Social Studies only. Show all subjects
All terms starting with M
maintain
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
to keep something in good working order
Learn it in: Public services (Grade 4)
majority
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
more than half
Learn it in: Community decision-making (Grade 2), Responsible participation (Grade 2), Community decision-making (Grade 3)
management
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
organising and looking after something carefully
Learn it in: Resource management (Grade 5)
mangrove
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
a tree that grows in salty coastal water and has tangled roots
Learn it in: Physical regions (Grade 5), Coastal environments (Grade 5)
manufactured good
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
a product made from raw materials using machines or skills
Learn it in: Imports and exports (Grade 6)
manufacturing
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
making goods from raw materials using tools and machines
Learn it in: Manufacturing introduction (Grade 3)
manuscript
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
a book or document written by hand
Learn it in: West African states and cultural centres (Grade 5), Historical states and societies (Grade 6)
map
Social StudiesFrom Grade 1
a drawing of a place from above
Learn it in: Pictures and simple maps (Grade 1), What is a map? (Grade 2), Maps as sources (Grade 3)
map key
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
a box explaining the symbols and colours used on a map
Learn it in: Thematic maps (Grade 6)
map projection
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
a method of showing the curved Earth on a flat map
Learn it in: Map projections introduction (Grade 6)
market
Social StudiesFrom Grade 1
a place where people buy and sell
Learn it in: Places in our community (Grade 1), Markets and shops (Grade 1), Places around us (Grade 1)
market town
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
a town where farmers sell and buy goods
Learn it in: Agriculture and settlements (Grade 4)
mastery
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
secure understanding that you can explain and apply in new situations
Learn it in: Final Grade 6 mastery assessment (Grade 6)
material
Social StudiesFrom Grade 1
what something is made of
Learn it in: Homes and buildings (Grade 1), Homes around the world (Grade 2), Housing and environment (Grade 2)
materials
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
things used to build, such as clay, wood, cement or thatch
Learn it in: Housing (Grade 3)
Maya
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
a civilisation of southern Mexico and Central America known for cities, writing and calendars
Learn it in: Early American civilisations (Grade 4)
mayor
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
the elected leader of a town or city
Learn it in: Community leaders (Grade 2)
media
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
channels used to communicate information, such as newspapers, radio, television and websites
Learn it in: Media ownership and purpose (Grade 6)
media analysis
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
careful study of how a media text is made, why, and with what effect
Learn it in: Media analysis project (Grade 6)
median age
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
the age that divides a population into two equal halves, younger and older
Learn it in: Migration and population (Grade 6)
mediation
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
help from a neutral person to reach agreement
Learn it in: Peaceful conflict resolution (Grade 6)
mediator
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
a fair person who helps others solve a problem
Learn it in: Peaceful conflict resolution (Grade 3)
medieval
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
the middle period, in Europe about 500 to 1500 CE
Learn it in: Historical periods (Grade 4)
megacity
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
a city with more than 10 million people
Learn it in: Urbanisation (Grade 6)
member
Social StudiesFrom Grade 1
one person in a group
Learn it in: What is a family? (Grade 1), Different communities (Grade 2)
member state
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
a country that belongs to an international organisation
Learn it in: International organisations (Grade 6)
memorial
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
something that helps people remember and honour those who suffered or died
Learn it in: Enslavement and the transatlantic slave trade (Grade 5)
memory
Social StudiesFrom Grade 1
something you remember
Learn it in: Family history introduction (Grade 1), What is the past? (Grade 1), Family memories (Grade 1)
Mercator projection
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
a projection useful for navigation that enlarges areas near the poles
Learn it in: Map projections introduction (Grade 6)
merchant
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
a person who buys and sells goods
Learn it in: Trade routes (Grade 4), Trans-Saharan trade (Grade 5)
Mesopotamia
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, mostly in present-day Iraq
Learn it in: Mesopotamia (Grade 4)
messenger
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
a person who carries a message
Learn it in: Changes in communication (Grade 2)
method
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
the way you gather information, such as reading, observing or surveying
Learn it in: Planning research (Grade 6)
midwife
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
a trained person who helps women give birth
Learn it in: Healthcare workers (Grade 2)
migrant
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
a person who moves from one place to live in another
Learn it in: Migration and cultural change (Grade 4)
migration
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
moving from one place to live in another
Learn it in: Changes in traditions (Grade 2), Population and settlements (Grade 3), Advantages and challenges of different settlements (Grade 3)
mineral
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
a natural solid material found in the ground
Learn it in: Natural resources (Grade 3), Mining introduction (Grade 3), Mineral and other natural resources (Grade 5)
mining
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
digging minerals from the ground
Learn it in: Natural resources (Grade 3), Mining introduction (Grade 3), Mineral and other natural resources (Grade 5)
ministry
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
a government department responsible for a field such as education or health
Learn it in: Public administration (Grade 5)
minority
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
fewer than half of the people
Learn it in: Fair decision-making (Grade 4)
minutes
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
a written record of what was decided at a meeting
Learn it in: Model community council (Grade 4)
misinformation
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
false or misleading information shared without intent to deceive
Learn it in: Misinformation (Grade 6)
missing voice
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
a person or group whose view has not been heard
Learn it in: Comparing perspectives (Grade 5)
mitigation
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
actions that reduce the causes of climate change
Learn it in: Climate change and society (Grade 6)
mobile money
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
money kept and sent using a mobile phone
Learn it in: Goods and services (Grade 3), Communication technologies (Grade 5)
modern
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
the recent past up to the present
Learn it in: Historical periods (Grade 4)
modify
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
to change something
Learn it in: Human modification of landscapes (Grade 4)
monarchy
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
a system in which a king or queen is head of state
Learn it in: Forms of government (Grade 6)
money
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
coins and notes used to buy things
Learn it in: Why people use money (Grade 2), Trade (Grade 4)
monsoon
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
a seasonal wind that changes direction and brings rain
Learn it in: Trade routes (Grade 4), Indian Ocean trade networks (Grade 5)
monument
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
a building or statue that remembers something
Learn it in: Preserving heritage (Grade 2), Preserving community memories (Grade 2), Important local places (Grade 3)
mother tongue
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
the first language a person learns at home
Learn it in: Languages and traditions (Grade 5)
motion
Social StudiesFrom Grade 4
a clear proposal put to a meeting for a decision
Learn it in: Model community council (Grade 4)
motive
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
a reason for doing something
Learn it in: Reasons people move (Grade 6)
motto
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
a short phrase that states a country’s main ideas
Learn it in: National symbols (Grade 3)
mountain
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
very high, steep land
Learn it in: Mountain communities (Grade 2), Mountains (Grade 4)
mountain range
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
a long chain of mountains
Learn it in: Physical regions (Grade 6)
mouth
Social StudiesFrom Grade 3
the place where a river meets the sea
Learn it in: Rivers and water bodies (Grade 3), Rivers (Grade 4)
multilingual
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
able to use more than one language
Learn it in: Languages and expressions (Grade 2), Language and communication (Grade 4)
multilingualism
Social StudiesFrom Grade 6
the ability to use several languages
Learn it in: Cultural and linguistic diversity (Grade 6)
multinational company
Social StudiesFrom Grade 5
a business that operates in several countries
Learn it in: International economic connections (Grade 5)
museum
Social StudiesFrom Grade 2
a place that keeps and shows historic objects
Learn it in: Preserving heritage (Grade 2), Preserving community memories (Grade 2), Historical artefacts (Grade 3)