1. 5th Grade Vocabulary
Objective 4
Earth Science

2. The breaking down and wearing
Weathering
The breaking down and wearing
away of rock

3. Deposition The process where sediment eroded by wind, water,
and ice is dropped in a new place.

4. The movement of weathered substances by water,
Erosion
The movement of weathered substances by water,
wind, or ice.

5. The motion or movement of a liquid state
Flow
The motion or movement of a liquid state
of a substance.

6. Spinning around a central axis
Rotation
Spinning around a central axis

7. Revolution One complete trip (orbit) of a planet around a star
or a moon around a planet

8. Molten Rock
Melted rock like magma or lava

9. Renewable Resources A natural resource that can be replaced
within a reasonable amount of time. (within a human lifespan)

10. Nonrenewable Resources
A natural resource that is in limited supply
and cannot be replaced once it is extracted.

11. Lunar Cycle The predictable 29 day cycle of the moon
as it orbits Earth and progresses
through several different phases

12. Axis
The tilted imaginary line on
which the Earth rotates

13. Day A 24 hour time period; the time during those
24 hours in which one side of the Earth is facing
toward the Sun.

14. Night Portion of the 24-hour period when the Sun
is not visible because the Earth is
facing away from it.

15. Axis
The tilted imaginary line on
which the Earth rotates

16. Fossil Fuels Fuels formed over a long length of time
from the bodies of organisms that
were living (coal, oil, natural gas)

17. Oil A liquid produced from organic matter
under pressure for many years

18. Natural Gas A gaseous fossil fuel produced from organic matter
that is used to cook and heat homes

19. Organic Matter Made from plant or animal material
(This can turn into fossil fuels.)

20. Alternative Energy Resource
A source of renewable energy
such as solar, wind, biofuels, hydroelectricity, or
geothermal energy.

21. Sedimentary Rock Layers
Rock that is formed when sediments were
pressed and cemented together.

22. A natural geographic structure on
Landform
A natural geographic structure on
Earth’s surface.

23. A large pile of deposited sand moved by wind.
Sand Dune
A large pile of deposited sand moved by wind.

24. Canyon A narrow opening in the Earth created
by the movement of water and wind

25. Glacier A large body of ice that flows slowly
that carves out valleys and shapes the landscape

26. Delta Where Earth materials are deposited
where a river enters an ocean

27. The mix of gases surrounding Earth.
Atmosphere
The mix of gases surrounding Earth.

28. Tide Periodic rises and falls of large
bodies of waters caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon.

29. Which type of soil retains (holds) more water?
Potting soil? Clay? Sand?

30. The process by which water is recycled upon the Earth
Water Cycle
The process by which water is recycled upon the Earth

31. Evaporation
The sun warms the water in the ocean, causing it to change from water (liquid) to water vapor (gas).

32. Condensation
Once the warm gas (water vapor) hits the cooler air it changes back into a liquid and forms a cloud.

33. Precipitation
Once they become so heavy, the cloud can no longer hold them. It begins to precipitate.

34. Planets Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune
A planet is a large body of rock or gas that orbits the sun.

35. Solar System
The solar system is the sun and the objects that orbit around it including planets, asteroids, and comets.

36. Fossils
The hardened remains of an organism that lived in the past.

37. Weather
The conditions of the atmosphere at a particular time and place, such as temperature, moisture and cloudiness.

38. Climate
The average conditions of the atmosphere over a long period of time. This includes factors such as temperature, moisture and cloudiness.