Vocabulary Cards

Grade 5

(organized by unit)
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To the Teacher
The ScienceFusion Vocabulary Cards are available online, formatted in
two ways: alphabetized as they appear in the Student Edition Glossary and
organized by Student Edition unit.

You may download the vocabulary cards to reproduce and distribute. Or

you may allow children and their families to download the cards. A second
set of cards is available to you with the answers to the activities in place.
To use the cards, cut them out along the solid lines. Then fold each card
along the dotted line. Glue the two sides of the cards together so that the
definition is on one side and the associated activity is on the other side.
The front of each card shows the vocabulary term, the phonetic respelling
(grades 2–5), and the glossary definition of the term. The back of each card
contains a short activity with a space for students to write or draw. The
activities (questions, fill-in-the-blanks, word scrambles, word searches) are
designed to help students understand and remember the meanings of
vocabulary terms in the Student Edition.
Ideas for Using the Vocabulary Cards
• Have small groups of students read each vocabulary term aloud and
take turns reading the definitions. Have students restate the meaning of
each term in their own words. Then have students work together to
complete the activity on the back of the card.
• Have students sort the cards by topic or have them create word webs
to see the relationships among the vocabulary terms.
• Have students use the Vocabulary Cards at home. Suggest that
students enlist family members to help them review and remember the
concepts associated with the vocabulary.
• Allow students to use the cards to play vocabulary reinforcement
games such as Concentration, Twenty Questions, and Jeopardy®.

• Encourage students to use the Vocabulary Cards as tools for reviewing

content prior to tests or state science assessment.
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
not need to be backed up with evidence. observation and investigation.
A personal belief or judgment that does The study of the natural world through
(uh•PIN•yuhn) (SY•uhns)
opinion science
Is each sentence a fact or an opinion? Why is science important?
The weather is beautiful today. __________________________________________
______________________________________ __________________________________________
The temperature is 78 ºF.
__________________________________________
______________________________________
There are cirrus clouds in the sky.
______________________________________
order to learn more about it.
scientific investigation.
observe, study, or test something in
Information collected during a
A procedure carried out to carefully
(EV•uh•duhns)
(in•ves•tuh•GAY•shuhn)
evidence
investigation
What could be evidence that dinosaurs Why do scientists carry out investigations?
once lived?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
a hypothesis.
compare all other setups.
conditions are controlled to test
The experimental setup to which you will
An investigation in which all of the
(kuhn•TROHL)
(ek•SPAIR•uh•muhnt)
control
experiment
To test the hypothesis A magnet does not Why is it important to control conditions in
attract an eraser you use a magnet, an eraser, an experiment?
and a paper clip. In Test A, you place the
eraser two inches from the magnet. In Test B, __________________________________________
you place the paper clip two inches from the
magnet. Which test is the control? __________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
an experiment. investigations and collect reliable data.
Any condition that can be changed in The different ways that scientists perform
(VAIR•ee•uh•buhl) (sy•uhn•TIF•ik METH•uhdz)
variable scientific methods
In an experiment, you place two similar plants Scientific methods use
on a sunny windowsill. You water Plant A
every day. You don’t water Plant B. What is __________________________________________
the variable in your experiment?
and ______________________________________.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
Very close to the actual value.
(AK•yuh•ruht)
accurate
When is it especially important to have
accurate measurements?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
A tool used to measure forces.
(SPRING SKAYL)
spring scale
When you hang an object on a spring scale,
what are you measuring?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
object's mass.
of matter in an object, which is the
A tool used to measure the amount
(BAL•uhns)
balance
What does it mean if you have a 50-gram mass
on one side of a balance and the two sides of
the balance are level?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
a microscope.
Too small to be seen without using
(my•kruh•SKAHP•ik)
microscopic
How do you observe through a microscope?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
another body.
a planet, whose orbit crosses the orbit of
A nearly round body, slightly smaller than
(DWAWRF PLAN•it)
dwarf planet
Name the dwarf planet that was once
classified as a planet.
_________________________________________
a star.
A large, round body that revolves around
(PLAN•it)
planet
Name the planets in our solar system in order.
Start with the one closest to the sun.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
that revolve around it.
A star and all the planets and other objects
(SOH•ler SIS•tuhm)
solar system
In our solar system, what is the shape of the
planets’ orbits around the sun?
__________________________________________
a microscope.
Too small to be seen without using
(my•kruh•SKAHP•ik)
microscopic
How do you observe through a microscope?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
space that produces its own light and heat. orbiting the sun.
A huge ball of very hot, glowing gases in A chunk of frozen gases, rock, ice, and dust
(STAHR) (KAHM•it)
star comet
Is the sun a larger star than all other stars? Which way does a comet’s tail point?
Explain.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
their properties. (621 mi) in diameter that orbits the sun.
The study of objects in space and A chunk of rock or iron less than 1,000 km
(uh•STRAHN•uh•mee) (AS•ter•oyd)
astronomy asteroid
Circle the words that relate to astronomy. Where is the asteroid belt?
s a p m r u a v e __________________________________________
t e l e s c o p e
a y a i u v f l a
r b n q n d j w r
p x e s c o m e t
a s t e r o i d h
c t z h n o k t g
 __________________________________________

__________________________________________

you think universal means?

Think about what universe means. What do Draw the water cycle and label the parts.

water cycle
universe
(WAWT•er SY•kuhl)
(YOO•nuh•vers)
The process in which water continuously
Everything that exists, including galaxies
moves from Earth's surface into the
and everything in them.
atmosphere and back again.

__________________________________________ gas called ________________________________.

What holds a galaxy together? When water evaporates, it forms an invisible

galaxy evaporation
(GAL•uhk•see) (ee•vap•uh•RAY•shuhn)

A group of billions of stars, objects that The process by which a liquid changes into
orbit those stars, gas, and dust. a gas.

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© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
and that flows across Earth’s surface.
Water that does not soak into the ground
(RUHN•awf)
runoff
What happens when runoff enters a river?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
Earth’s surface.
Water that falls from the air to
(pree•sip•uh•TAY•shuhn)
precipitation
What may happen when precipitation seeps
into the ground?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
a liquid.
The process by which a gas changes into
(kahn•duhn•SAY•shuhn)
condensation
Why might condensation form on a cold glass?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
a planet.
The mixture of gases that surround
(AT•muhs•feer)
atmosphere
About what percentage of Earth do clouds in
the atmosphere cover?
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
The amount of water vapor in the air.
(hyoo•MID•uh•tee)
humidity
Name the tool that measures humidity.
__________________________________________
air pressure.
A weather instrument used to measure
(buh•RAHM•uht•er)
barometer
How does a barometer work?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
wind speed.
A weather instrument that measures
(an•uh•MAHM•uht•er)
anemometer
An anemometer measures wind speed. In what
unit is wind speed measured?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
certain place and time.
What is happening in the atmosphere at a
(WETH•er)
weather
Why is it important to know what the weather
is like?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
The border where two air masses meet.
(FRUHNT)
front
What forms when a cold air mass moves under
a warm air mass?
__________________________________________
temperature and humidity throughout.
A large body of air that has similar
(AIR MAS)
air mass
Where does a warm, dry air mass form? Where
does a cold wet air mass form?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
Air that is moving.
(WIND)
wind
Wind usually moves from areas of
_______________________________ pressure to
areas of _______________________ pressure.
down on Earth.
The weight of the atmosphere pressing
(AIR PRESH•er)
air pressure
What causes differences in air pressures?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
distant from the North and South Poles.
An imaginary line around Earth, equally
(ee•KWAYT•er)
equator
What kind of climate occurs near the equator?
__________________________________________
throughout.
temperatures and precipitation
An area that has similar average
(KLY•muht ZOHN)
climate zone
Name the climate zone you live in.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
experiences over a long period of time.
The pattern of weather an area
(KLY•muht)
climate
What is the difference between climate
and weather?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
weather data.
A map that uses symbols to show
(WETH•er MAP)
weather map
Name the kind of scientist who uses data to
make weather maps.
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
how hot or cold something is.
up space.
the particles of matter, which we feel as
Anything that has mass and takes
The measure of the energy of motion in
(MAT•er)
(TEM•per•uh•cher)
matter
temperature
An increase in temperature is equal to Can matter be created? Explain.
an increase in ________________________ __________________________________________
movement.
__________________________________________
place is from the equator.
The amount of space something takes up.
A measure of how far north or south a
(VAHL•yoom)
(LAT•ih•tood)
volume
latitude
What do you mean if you say Box A has more What is the latitude of the equator?
volume than Box B?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
the same.
makeup of the substance remains does not have a definite shape or volume.
of a substance changes but the chemical The state of matter in which a substance
A change in which the form or shape
(GAS)
(FIZ•ih•kuhl CHAYNJ) gas
physical change
Circle the words that name physical changes. Describe the particles in a gas.
t b u r n c o o k __________________________________________
e r q v c r f s b
a b e d u a r l r __________________________________________
r m e l t c u i e __________________________________________
a c x j m k s c a
f r e e z e t e k
d e c o m p o s e
a definite volume. definite shape.
substance has a definite shape and substance has a definite volume but no
The state of matter in which a The state of matter in which a
(SAHL•id) (LIK•wid)
solid liquid
What do the particles of a solid do? Do particles in a liquid move more freely or
less freely than particles in a solid?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
mixed evenly.
throughout because all the parts are
A mixture that has the same composition
(suh•LOO•shuhn)
solution
Name two examples of solutions.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
their identities.
substances in which the substances keep
A combination of two or more different
(MIKS•cher)
mixture
Is mixing a physical change or a chemical
change? Explain.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
formed during a chemical change.
The process in which new substances are
(ree•AK•shuhn)
reaction
What is an example of a chemical reaction?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
and different substances.
caused by a reaction, that forms new
A change in one or more substances,
(KEM•ih•kuhl CHAYNJ)
chemical change
Write three examples of chemical changes.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
other atoms.
elements that have combined chemically.
of atoms and how they interact with
A substance made of atoms of two or more
A scientific explanation of the structure
(KAHM•pownd)
(uh•TAHM•ik THEE•uh•ree)
compound
atomic theory
In the compound sodium nitrate, What does current atomic theory state?
for each atom of sodium there are
__________________________________________
_________________ oxygen atom(s), and
__________________________________________
__________________ nitrogen atom(s).
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
properties of that element.
of atom.
can be divided and still retain all the
Matter that is made of only one kind
The smallest unit into which an element
(EL•uh•muhnt)
(AT•uhm)
element
atom
Write the name of an element. How many What is at the center of an atom?
protons does that element have?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
electrical charges.
Energy caused by the movement of
(ee•LEK•trih•kuhl EN•er•jee)
electrical energy
Name three things in the classroom that use
electrical energy.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
of motion.
The energy an object has because
(kih•NET•ik EN•er•jee)
kinetic energy
Write an example of kinetic energy.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
position or its condition.
Energy that an object has because of its
(poh•TEN•shuhl EN•er•jee)
potential energy
Write an example of something that has
potential energy.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
and move.
that which living things use to live, grow,
The ability to cause changes in matter;
(EN•er•jee)
energy
Unscramble the letters to make words that
name three kinds of energy.
heImaicc
__________________________________________
lrhteam
__________________________________________
etilecrIac
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
The flow of electric charges along a path.
(ee•LEK•trik KER•uhnt)
electric current
Name a source of an electric current.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
an object.
The buildup of electric charges on
(STAT•ik ee•lek•TRIS•uh•tee)
static electricity
What causes static electricity when you brush
your hair?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
be released by a chemical reaction.
Energy that is stored in matter and that can
(KEM•ih•kuhl EN•er•jee)
chemical energy
Write an example of how we use
chemical energy.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
an object.
The total energy of motion and position of
(muh•KAN•ih•kuhl EN•er•jee)
mechanical energy
Write an equation to show the relationship of
mechanical, kinetic, and potential energy.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
electricity well.
produce magnetism.
charge and therefore does not conduct
A device in which electric current is used to
A material that resists the flow of electric
(ee•lek•troh•MAG•nit)
(IN•suh•layt•er)
electromagnet
insulator
Name three materials that act as insulators. Draw and label a device that uses
an electromagnet.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
electrical energy.
mechanical energy.
by converting kinetic energy to
A device that changes electrical energy into
A device that makes an electric current
(ee•LEK•trik MOHT•er)
(JEN•er•ayt•er)
electric motor
generator
It is important for a hospital to have a Name three devices that use an electric motor.
generator. Why do you think this is so?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
path for the electric charges to follow.
An electric circuit that has more than one
(PAIR•uh•lel SER•kit)
parallel circuit
Why might a parallel circuit be more useful
than a series circuit?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
charges have only one path to follow.
An electric circuit in which the electric
(SEER•eez SER•kit)
series circuit
Draw a series circuit.
can flow.
A path along which electric charges
(SER•kit)
circuit
What is a closed circuit?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
carries electricity well.
charges to pass through it and therefore
A material that readily allows electric
(kuhn•DUK•ter)
conductor
Explain why the human body is a conductor.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
opposite in direction. objects on it.
because they are equal in size and such as the attraction between Earth and
Forces that cancel each other out The force of attraction between objects,
(BAL•uhnst FAWRS•iz) (GRAV•ih•tee)
balanced forces gravity
Write an example of balanced force. Match the term with the correct word on
the right.
__________________________________________
gravity pulls
__________________________________________ friction pushes
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
objects and that opposes motion. in an object’s motion.
A force that acts between two touching A push or pull, which may cause a change
(FRIK•shuhn) (FAWRS)
friction force
Rub your hands together. What does Name three things a force can do.
friction produce?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
do a job for the body.
A living thing.
A group of organs that work together to
(AWR•guh•niz•uhm)
(AWR•guhn SIS•tuhm)
organism
organ system
Name three organ systems in the human body. What is an organism made of?
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________ __________________________________________
__________________________________________
cancel each other out.
that work together to do a certain job.
because they act on an object and don’t
A body part that is made of smaller parts
Forces that cause a change in motion
(AWR•guhn)
(uhn•BAL•uhnst FAWRS•iz)
organ
unbalanced forces
Circle the words that name organs of What is the result of an unbalanced force
the body. acting on an object?
h e a r t a l e k __________________________________________
m y u o y s u h n
q e a r s t n p o __________________________________________
i r f n k l g z s
c j v x i b o n e
b r a i n b g w d
 __________________________________________
__________________________________________
from the brain?
What body part carries information to and What body parts connect the bones of a joint?

bone
brain
(BOHN)
(BRAYN)
A hard organ that has a spongy layer
The organ in the human body that
inside and that may help support the body
processes information.
or protect other organs.

__________________________________________.
__________________________________________
muscle contracts, the other muscle
Skin is part of what body system? Muscles often work in pairs. When one

muscle
skin
(MUHS•uhl)
(SKIN)
An organ made of bundles of long fibers
The human body's largest organ, which
that can contract to produce movement in
covers the outside of the body.
living things.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

 e m q t t x e b a
d v d n a g r o w
p m u p e j i n a
d o o l b n c b u
l f f r x I o y p
__________________________________________ t g x y r e t r a
g s z k h v h t i
compared to what human body parts?
The exoskeleton of some animals can be Circle the words that relate to the heart.

exoskeleton
heart
(eks•oh•SKEL•uh•tuhn)
(HAHRT)
A hard outer covering, found in many
A muscular organ that pumps blood
types of animals, that supports and protects
through the rest of the circulatory system.
the body.

and release _______________________________. goes into the _____________________________.

Lungs take in _____________________________ After liquefied food leaves the stomach, it

lungs stomach
(LUHNGZ) (STUHM•uhk)

The large organs in the respiratory system A baglike organ in which food is mixed
that bring oxygen from the air into the with digestive juices and squeezed
body and release carbon dioxide. by muscles.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
and releases urine.
An organ in the excretory system that stores
(BLAD•er)
bladder
What is the name of the small tube that takes
urine from the bladder to outside of the body?
__________________________________________
remove waste materials from the blood.
Organs in the human excretory system that
(KID•neez)
kidneys
Why are your kidneys important?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
and insulin.
An organ that makes a digestive juice
(PAN•kree•uhs)
pancreas
What does the pancreas break down?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
called bile.
A large organ that makes a digestive juice
(LIV•er)
liver
The liver helps break down
__________________________________________.
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
an ecosystem or a resource.
The process of preserving and protecting
(kahn•ser•VAY•shuhn)
conservation
Why is it important to conserve trees?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
and damages an ecosystem.
A waste product that harms living things
(puh•LOO•shuhn)
pollution
What is an example of pollution?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
environment in which they live.
A community of organisms and the
(EE•koh•sis•tuhm)
ecosystem
What is a way living things in an
ecosystem interact?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
surround and affect an organism.
All the living and nonliving things that
(en•VY•ruhn•muhnt)
environment
What might be in a forest environment?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
knows how to do without being taught.
A behavior that an organism inherits and
(IN•stingkt)
instinct
What is the difference between an instinct and
a learned behavior?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
organism survive.
A trait or characteristic that helps an
(ad•uhp•TAY•shuhn)
adaptation
Unscramble the letters to make words that
name kinds of adaptations.
agumloface
__________________________________________
imiycrm
__________________________________________
tanrgoiim
__________________________________________
find everything it needs to survive.
The place where an organism lives and can
(HAB•ih•tat)
habitat
What are some ways habitats can differ?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
kind of living thing.
The death of all the members of a certain
(ek•STINGK•shuhn)
extinction
What can cause extinction?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
Near Earth’s North Pole or South Pole.
(POHL•er)
polar
Where do polar bears and penguins live?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
covered mostly with conifers.
Land that is very cold in winter and that is
(TY•guh)
taiga
What kind of climate does the taiga have?
__________________________________________
An area of land that is very dry.
(DEZ•ert)
desert
Are all deserts hot? Explain.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
than a forest.
grasses that generally receives less rain
An area of land covered mostly with
(GRAS•land)
grassland
Name some animals that live in grasslands.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
uncovered at low tide.
that is covered by water at high tide and
The area between the land and the ocean
(in•ter•TYD•l ZOHN)
intertidal zone
Name three living things that live in the
intertidal zone.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
water for most of the year.
An area of land covered with shallow
(WET•land)
wetland
Why are wetlands important habitats?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________