This document is an alphabetized science glossary containing definitions of scientific terms from A to Z. It defines terms such as atmosphere, burrow, climate, data, erosion, fungi, galaxy, hibernate, ion, Jupiter, kinetic energy, life cycles, mantle, nervous system, ozone, periodic table, quartz, rotation, surface water, tectonic plates, universe, volcano, weathering, xenon, year, and zinc. The glossary is intended to teach elementary science vocabulary terms from A to Z.

1. The ABC’s of
SCIENCE
Teri Elk, ELED 412

2. A is for..…Atmosphere
The Earth is surrounded by a large mass of
gas called the atmosphere. It is about 348
miles thick, it supports life on Earth and
separates it from space.

3. B is for..…Burrow
A hole or a tunnel dug in the ground by a small
animal, such as a rabbit or mole, for a place of
habitation or refuge.

4. C is for..…Climate
Climate is the weather conditions in an area on
a continuous, seasonal basis. Climate can be
measured by the average variety of weather
conditions.

5. D is for..…DATA
Data is factual information, especially
information organized for analysis or used to
reason or make decisions.

6. E is for..…Erosion
Erosion is the movement of sediment from one
location to the other through the use of
water, wind, ice, or gravity. The Grand
Canyon was created by the process of
weathering and erosion.

7. F is for…..Fungi
Fungi are multicellular organisms with a
sophisticated organization system which
contain eukaryotic cells. Fungi exists in many
different forms and shapes.

8. G is for…..Galaxy
Galaxies are large collections of stars,
hydrogen, dust particles, and other gases.
The universe is made of countless galaxies.
The solar system that includes Earth is part
of a galaxy called the Milky Way.

9. H is for…..Hibernate
To spend the winter in close quarter in a
dormant condition, as bears and certain other
animals is to hibernate.

10. I is for…..Ion
An atom or a group of atoms that has an
electric charge. Positive ions, or cations, are
formed by the loss of electrons; negative
ions, or anions, are formed by the gain of
electrons.

11. J is for…..Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the sun, the
largest and most massive in the solar system.
It has 16 satellites and is surrounded by a
transient planar ring system consisting of
dust particles.

12. K is for….. Kinetic Energy
An object possessing energy because of its
ability to move has kinetic energy. Kinetic
Energy is used for movement and to do work.

13. L is for…..Life Cycles
Life Cycles traditionally begins with a seed or
a fertilized egg, which goes through
metamorphosis until the organism is fully
formed. The development and growth of
organisms can take days, months, or years.

14. M is for…..Mantle
The mantle is the thickest layer of the Earth
located right below the crust. It is composed
mostly of rocks and metals. The heat is so
intense that rocks and metals melt, creating
magma and the resulting lava that reaches the
surface.

15. N is for…..Nervous System
The nervous system has two main divisions;
the somatic and automatic. The somatic
allows the voluntary control of skeletal
muscles, and the automatic, controls cardiac
and glandular functions.

16. O is for…..Ozone
Ozone forms a layer at the top of the
atmosphere that blocks harmful ultraviolet
rays from the sun from reaching the Earth’s
surface.

17. P is for…..Periodic Table
There are 112 basic kinds of matter, called
elements that are organized into the periodic
table.

18. Q is for…..Quartz
A Quartz is a colorless mineral often tinted
by impurities found in igneous, sedimentary,
and metamorphic rocks. It is used in the
manufacture of glass, abrasives, and cement,
and also as a gemstone.

19. R is for…..Rotation
Rotation describes the spinning of Earth on
its axis. Earth takes approximately 24 hours
to make a complete rotation, which creates
day and night.

20. S is for…..Surface Water
Surface water is the water in
streams, lakes, rivers, and all water that is on
the surface of the ground.

21. T is for…..Tectonic Plates
The two sub-layers of the earth’s crust
(lithosphere) that move, float, and sometimes
fracture and whose interaction causes
continental drift, earthquakes, volcanoes,
mountains, and oceanic trenches.

22. U is for…..Universe
All matter and energy, including the
earth, the galaxies, and the contents of
intergalactic space, regarded as a whole.

23. V is for…..Volcano
Volcanoes are formed by the constant motion
of tectonic plates. This movement creates
pressure that forces magma from the mantel
to escape to the surface, creating an
explosion of lava, fire, and ash.

24. W is for…..Weathering
Weathering is the process of breaking down
rock, soils, and minerals through natural,
chemical, and biological processes. Two of
the most common examples of physical
weathering are exfoliation (desert) and
freeze thaw (cracks,freezes,expands).

25. X is for…..Xenon
The chemical element of atomic number 54, a
member of the noble gas series. It is
obtained by distillation of liquid air and is
some specialized electric lamps.

26. Y is for…..Year
The period of time during which Earth
completes a single revolution around the sun,
consisting of 354 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes,
and 12 seconds of mean solar time.

27. Z is for…..Zinc
A bluish-white, lustrous metallic element that
is brittle at room temperature but malleable
with heating. It has the atomic number 30.

28. Reference List
• Rosado, A. Luis. (2010). The Best Teachers’ Preparation for the
Texas 191 Generalist EC-6 Test. New Jersey. Research &
Education Association.
• (2012). Dictionary.com. (2012, July 14)
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/zinc