Science is an awe-inspiring subject that encompasses many topics from astronomy to earth science. Faced with the vast array of first grade science terminology that is used, students can gain a comprehensive understanding of science by making connections between first grade science vocabulary and real life contexts.
Using first grade science games for online review along with targeted science worksheets and automated testing allows students to make the vital connection between science and application. The activities are designed to instill an understanding of the word definitions through quizzing, drilling, and repetition. Familiarity with a term’s spelling and meaning plays an important role in understanding its function in science and linkages to other areas.
VocabularySpellingCity has developed extensive elementary science word lists to enable students to make this connection. You have the option to browse the summary lists (see “Summary Lists” below) at a glance, or to view the extended versions in the following categories: Scientific Inquiry, Matter, Energy, Motion, Space, Earth, and Life Science.
The word lists are designed to fit the standard 1st grade science curriculum, and to cover a wide range of topics. Learning to use and understand vocabulary words from these science areas at the first grade level is key for students to advance to second grade science and beyond. Interactive first grade science activities make learning science awesome!
Return to Science Vocabulary Overview.
1st Grade Science Vocabulary
Words at a Glance
1st Grade Scientific Inquiry
Actions: add, alter, create, decrease, increase, separate, sequence, sort, map, subtract, classify, definite, explore, grow, magnify, prevent, produce, respond
Appearance: characteristics, circle, luster, rectangle, shape, triangle, straight, shine, surface, appearance, color, combination, size, square, circular, texture, dull, rough, shimmer, shiny, soft, smooth
Behavior: science, characteristics, cold, composition, heat, takes up space, magnetic, temperature, warm, observe, made up of, float, gas, liquid, shine, sink, solid, stronger, weaker, hot
Conducting Experiments: compare, gather data, hypothesize, identify, imagine, measure, observe, journal, trials, record, experiment, notebook, problem, scale, tally chart, teamwork, variable
Direction: east, left, north, right, south, west, direction, across, back, down, up, angle, backward, far, farther, forward, in front, through, zigzag
Physical Processes: boil, change of state, contract, dissolve, expand, melt, mix, law, mixture, freeze, thaw, physical change, cycle, freezing, interact, system
Position: next to, center, east, north, right, south, top, west, left, position, close, front, high, near, behind, between, low, middle, outside, over, around, location, above, away, below, closer, inside, under, bottom
Properties: gas, solid, matter, object, volume, liquid, substance, mass, phase, takes up space, material, mixture, property, scientist
The Scientific Method: analyze, attempt, balance, communicate, graph, make conclusions, predict, scientific method, pattern, investigate, infer, bar graph, qualitative observations, quantitative observations, relationship, share, solution
1st Grade Matter
The Changes in Matter: alter, boil, evaporate, condense, freeze, melt, separate, combine, change, condensation, evaporation, phase, physical change, vibrate, dissolve, matter
The Characteristics of Matter: dull, light, rough, shine, smooth, texture, characteristics, shape, luster, appearance, describe, alter, combination, property, shiny, color, float, sink, cold, surface, vibrate, warm
The States of Matter: atom, composition, mass, matter, volume, weight, phases of matter, material, states of matter, liquid, mixture, physical property, solid, water vapor, container, definite, substance, takes up space, phase, separate, water
1st Grade Energy
Electricity: battery, electricity, speed, wave, weaker, energy transfer, interaction
Energy Flow: circuit, energy, energy flow, energy system, heat gain, heat loss, model energy system, solar energy
Fossil Fuels: coal, earth, fossil, fossil fuel, gasoline, natural gas, nonrenewable, plastic, rubber
Heat Energy: absorb, reflect, shortest, solar energy, heat gain, heat loss, hot, longest, wave, sun, freezing, heat, melt, temperature, thermometer
Light Energy: speed, absorb, light, light ray, longest, reflect refract, shortest, transparent, visible
Renewable Resources: solar energy, renewable, reuse, water energy, wind energy, wood, water cycle, resource, earth, wave, aquarium, natural resource, recycle, reduce, sun, terrarium
Sound Energy: absorb, longest, shortest, wave, speed, sound wave, soft, hear, loud, pitch, sound, vibration, volume
1st Grade Motion
Direction Words: left, north, right, south, west, back, east, surface, across, backward, circular, down, through, zigzag, straight, measure
Force: attract, friction, horseshoe magnet, magnet, magnetism, movement, position, repel, away, force, iron, magnetic, metal, nonmagnetic, pull, ring magnet, bar magnet, gravity, location, magnetic field, motion, nonmetal, push
Position Words: left, north, right, south, west, inside, outside, east, above, close, in front, around, behind, below, between, bottom, center, near, top, far, position, next to, low, closer, farther, front, high, middle, over, under
Simple Machines: fixed point, inclined plane, level, rod, simple machine, wedge, fulcrum, machine, pulley, ramp, screw, wheel and axle, work
1st Grade Space Science
The Moon: mass, gravity, surface, beaming, lunar, moon, reflect, shimmer, orbit, full moon, calendar,motion, revolve, first quarter moon, new moon, phase, third quarter moon, waning, waxing
The Planet Earth: mass, gravity, surface, earth, equator, poles, spaceship, telescope, motion, revolve, day, month, night, sunshine, time, speed, autumn, orbit, fall, north pole, seasons, south pole, spring, summer, winter
The Sun: mass, light energy, light ray, light waves, shine, solar system, star,sun, light, Milky Way Galaxy, galaxy, solar energy, sunlight, energy, gas, planets, space, system, universe
The Universe: galaxy, light waves, Milky Way Galaxy, orbit, planets, star, sunlight, surface, time, universe
1st Grade Earth Science
Formation: composition, cycle, dissolve, lava, material, melt, water, water energy, wind energy, erosion, flood, glacier, gravity, landslide, mass, matter, physical change, substance, weathering
History of the Earth: earth, extinct, fossil, glacier, melt, movement, oxygen, rain, water
Inside the Earth: coal, crust, earthquake, magnetic field, mass, natural gas, oil, rock, core, earth, equator, lava, mantle, north pole, south pole, iron
Landforms: identify, landform. map, rough, shape, size, structure, surface, mountain, plain, river, smooth, texture, valley, volcano
Minerals: copper, dull, luster, metal, mineral, mining, nonmetal, silver, shine, identify
Processes: air, cloud, evaporate, melt, nutrients, precipitation, smog, snow, water cycle, water vapor, weather, water pollution, sleet, renewable, rain, liquid, freeze, condensation, climate, air pollution
Resources: air pollution, smog, water pollution, natural resource, recycle, renewable, nonrenewable, water, nutrients
The Earth's Surface: root, soil, plant, river, surface, natural resource, nonliving, living, heat energy, Earth's surface, sand, dirt, plants, map, gravity, cast, surface
The Water Cycle: freeze, condensation, water cycle, evaporate, water vapor, climate, hail, rain, cycle
The Weather: air, snow, weather, cirrus clouds, sleet, melt, liquid, cumulus clouds, cloud, precipitation
1st Grade Life Science
Animal Body Parts: flipper, fur, gills, paw, scale, tail, webbed foot, wing, beak, claw, feather, fin
Animals: amphibian, animal, bird, fish, mammal, reptile, insect, shellfish
Body Functions: backbone, body covering, breathe, function, hear, lungs, senses, taste
Ecosystems: climate, lake, grassland, ecosystem, forest, desert, freshwater, saltwater, ocean, tundra, extinct, habitat, wetland, river, cycle, rainforest, interact, endangered
Environment: features, habitat . water, absorb, resource, shelter, community, wildlife, population
Living Things: inherit, adapt, basic needs, living, organism, life cycle, offspring, trait, reproduce, genetic
Plants: flower, leaf, plant, root, seed, shrub, sprout, stem
Resources: water, air pollution, resource, conservation, energy transfer, garbage, solar energy, reuse, litter, solar power, farm, natural resource, nonrenewable, recycle, renewable, water pollution
The Food Chain: interact, consumer, food chain, predator, prey, ecosystem, relationship, producer, food web, herbivore, nutrients, omnivore, organism, environment, community, carnivore, consumer, food, herbivore, omnivore, predator, prey, producer
The Life Cycle: eggs, embryo, metamorphosis, hatch, life cycle, grow, adult, parent
The Weather: climate, air, outside, polar climate, sunlight, rain, winter, weather, cloud, cold, condensation, precipitation, tropical climate, water cycle, evaporation
