K-8 Vocabulary Glossary

1,801 curriculum-aligned vocabulary terms with grade-level definitions, learning context, and connections to educational music. Whether you are teaching fractions in 3rd grade or the water cycle in 5th, find the terms your students need to master.

Each term page includes definitions tailored to the appropriate grade level, topic context paragraphs, related vocabulary, and links to JamWise learning games that reinforce retention through music and play.

Browse by subject and grade

Find vocabulary for a specific subject and grade level. Each page shows all terms your students will encounter.

Math

583 terms

a.m.above absolute value acute angle add add decimals add fractions addend addition additive comparison additive inverse adjacent angles after algorithm alternate interior angles analog clock angle angle sum of a triangle angle-angle similarity area area model area of a circle area of a composite figure area of a parallelogram area of a trapezoid area of a triangle array association associative property attribute average bar graph base base (of an exponent)before behind below benchmark fraction beside between biased sample big biggest bivariate data box plot braces brackets capacity categorical data cent centimeter cents chance experiment circle circumference classify clock cluster coefficient column commission common denominator common factor commutative property compare compare numbers comparison complementary angles complex fraction compose composite figure composite number composite shape compound event cone congruence transformation congruent constant constant of proportionality converse of the Pythagorean theorem conversion conversion table convert decimals to percents convert fractions to decimals coordinate plane coordinate plane quadrants coordinate proof corner correlation corresponding angles corresponding terms count count back count on counting cross section cube cube root cubed cubic centimeter cubic meter cubic unit customary system customary units cylinder data decimal decimal fraction decimal operations decimal place value decimal point decompose decompose fractions decreasing function degree denominator dependent variable diameter difference different digit digital clock dilation dime discount distribution distributive property divide divide decimals divide fractions dividend division divisor dollar domain dot plot double number line double number line diagram doubles doubles plus one edge elapsed time elimination elimination method empty equal equal groups equal parts equal sign equal to equals sign equation equilateral triangle equivalent decimals equivalent expressions equivalent fraction equivalent fractions equivalent ratios estimate evaluate even even number event expand expanded form experimental probability exponent expression exterior angle exterior angle of a triangle face fact family factor factor an expression factor pair factors false fewer first flat flat surface foot formula fourth fourths fraction fraction on a number line frequency full function function notation function table gallon gram graph graph of a function gratuity greater than greatest common factor group half half hour half past halves heavier heavy hexagon hierarchy histogram hour hour hand hundred chart hundreds hundredths hypotenuse improper fraction in front of inch increasing function independent variable inequality inference infinitely many solutions initial value input input-output table integer interior angles of a triangle interquartile range intersecting lines inverse operations irrational number isosceles triangle kilogram kilometer last laws of exponents least common multiple leg legs of a right triangle length less less than light lighter like denominators like terms line line graph line of best fit line of symmetry line plot line segment linear association linear equation linear expression linear function liter long long division longer make ten making ten markdown markup mass mean mean absolute deviation measure measure of center median mental math meter metric system metric units mile milligram milliliter millimeter minus minute minute hand missing addend mixed number mode more multi-digit multi-digit number multiple multiples multiplication multiplication table multiplicative comparison multiplicative inverse multiply multiply decimals multiply fractions near doubles nearest hundred nearest ten negative association negative exponent negative number net net of a solid next to nickel no association no solution nonlinear association nonlinear function number number bond number line number line fraction number line model number pattern number sentence number word numeral numerator numerical data numerical expression o'clock obtuse angle octagon odd odd number one ones ones place open number line opposite opposite integers opposite numbers opposite operations order order of operations ordered pair ordinal number origin ounce outcome outlier output p.m.pair parallel lines parallel lines cut by a transversal parallelogram parentheses parentheses in equations part partial product partial products partition pattern pattern rule penny pentagon percent percent decrease percent error percent increase percent of a number percentage decrease percentage increase perfect square perimeter perpendicular lines pi pictograph picture graph place value place value (decimals)place value chart place value periods plot plus point point-slope form polygon polyhedron population positive association positive number pound power power of ten powers of ten prime number prism probability product proportion proportional relationship protractor pyramid Pythagorean theorem quadrant quadrilateral qualitative data qualitative graph quantitative data quart quarter quarter past quarter to quartile quotient radius random sampling range rate rate of change ratio rational number rational number operations ray real number reciprocal rectangle rectangular prism reflection regroup regular polygon related facts relative frequency remainder repeated addition repeating decimal representative sample rhombus right angle rigid motion rotation round rounding rounding decimals row ruler same sample sample space scale scale drawing scale factor scaled bar graph scaled copy scalene triangle scatter plot scientific notation semicircle sequence shape short shorter side sign similar similarity transformation simple interest simplest form simulation skip count by 100s skip count by 10s skip count by 5s skip counting slope slope formula slope-intercept form small smallest solid solid figure solution solution of a system solution to an equation solution to an inequality sort speed sphere square square number square root square unit squared standard algorithm standard form standard form of a linear equation statistical question straight angle substitute substitution substitution method subtract subtract decimals subtract fractions subtraction sum supplementary angles surface area surface area of a prism survey symmetry system of equations table table of values tall taller tally chart tally mark tally marks tape diagram tax teen number temperature ten ten frame tens tens place tenths term terminating decimal theoretical probability third thirds thousand thousandths three-digit number three-dimensional tiling times tip ton total transformation translation transversal trapezoid triangle triangle inequality triangle inequality theorem true truncate two-digit number two-dimensional two-step equation two-step inequality two-way frequency table two-way table unit unit cube unit fraction unit price unit rate unknown unlike denominators value variability variable vertex vertical angles vertical line test volume volume of a cone volume of a cylinder volume of a prism volume of a sphere whole whole number whole number exponent word form word problem x-axis x-coordinate x-intercept y-axis y-coordinate y-intercept yard zero zero exponent

Science

376 terms

abiotic absolute age absorb absorption acceleration active transport adaptation air air mass air pressure alive allele amphibian amplitude anemometer animal asexual reproduction asthenosphere atmosphere atom atomic mass atomic number attract autotroph balanced forces barometer basic needs biodiversity biome biosphere biotic bird camouflage carbon cycle carnivore carrying capacity cell cell membrane cell theory cell wall cellular respiration chemical bond chemical change chemical reaction chemical weathering chloroplast chromosome circuit classify climate climate change cloud cold common ancestor community compare compass competition compound condensation conduction conductor conservation conservation of mass constellation constraint consumer continent continental drift control group convection convection current covalent bond criteria cytoplasm data day decomposer density dependent variable deposition desert design process diffusion dissolve DNA dominant trait dormancy earthquake ecology ecosystem electric charge electric current electromagnetic induction electromagnetic spectrum electromagnetic wave electron element endothermic reaction energy energy conservation energy pyramid energy resources energy transfer engineer environment erosion eukaryote evaporation evolution exothermic reaction external structure extinct fault fish flexibility float flower food chain food web force forest fossil fossil evidence fossil record frequency friction front gas gene genetic variation genotype geologic time scale geosphere gills glacier gravity greenhouse effect grow habitat half-life heat herbivore heredity heterotroph hibernate homeostasis hot hydrosphere hypothesis igneous rock independent variable inertia inherited behavior inherited trait insect insulator internal structure invertebrate investigation ion ionic bond island isotope kinetic energy kinetic theory of matter lake landform larva leaf learned behavior life cycle life span light limiting factor liquid lithosphere living thing magnet magnetic force mammal map mass material matter mechanical energy mechanical weathering meiosis metalloids metals metamorphic rock metamorphosis microscope microscopic migrate mineral mitochondria mitosis mixture model molecule momentum moon motion mountain multicellular mutation natural hazard natural resource natural selection nest neutron Newton's first law Newton's second law Newton's third law niche night nitrogen nitrogen cycle nonliving thing nonmetals nonrenewable energy nonrenewable resource nucleus nutrient observe ocean offspring Ohm's law omnivore orbit organ organ system organism osmosis oxygen parallel circuit pattern periodic table pH scale phenotype photosynthesis physical change plant plate boundary plate tectonics pollination pond population potential energy power precipitate precipitation predator prey producer product prokaryote properties proton prototype pull Punnett square pupa push radiation rain reactant recessive trait recycle reduce reflect reflection refraction relative age renewable energy renewable resource repel reproduce reptile resistance resource respiration revolution ribosome river rock rock cycle root rotation runoff sea-floor spreading season sedimentary rock seed seed dispersal seismic wave selective breeding sense receptor senses series circuit sexual reproduction shade shadow shelter simple machine sink skeleton snow soil soil layers solar energy solar system solid solubility solution sound sound wave species speed star states of matter static electricity stem stream subduction sublimation succession sun sunrise sunset superposition symbiosis taxonomy technology tectonic plate telescope temperature texture thermal energy thermal expansion thermometer tides tissue topographic map topography trait transpiration troposphere unbalanced force unbalanced forces unicellular vacuole valley variable velocity vertebrate vibration volcano voltage volume water water cycle water table wave wave properties wavelength weather weather map weather pattern weather tools weathering wet wind wind vane work

English Language Arts

398 terms

abstract abstract noun act active voice adage adjective adverb affix allegory alliteration allusion almanac ambiguity analogy anaphora anecdotal evidence anecdote annotate annotation antagonist antithesis antonym apostrophe appeal to authority appositive archaic language archetype argument assonance atlas audience author author's craft author's purpose autobiography back cover ballad beginning bias bibliography bildungsroman biography blend body paragraph bold print brainstorm call to action capital letter caption catharsis cause cause and effect central idea central message character character trait characterization chart cite cite evidence claim clause climax collective noun colloquialism colon comma common noun comparative adjective compare compare and contrast complete sentence complex sentence compound sentence compound word concession conclusion conditional mood conflict conjunction connection connotation consonance consonant context clue contraction contrast coordinating conjunction correlative conjunction counterclaim couplet cover credible source dangling modifier dash declarative sentence denotation denouement dependent clause descriptive writing detail determiner develop diagram dialect dialogue diction dictionary draft drama dramatic irony dramatic structure drawing dynamic character edit editorial effect elaboration ellipsis encyclopedia end epigraph epiphany epistolary ethos etymology euphemism evidence exclamation mark exclamatory sentence exposition expository text external conflict fable fact fairy tale falling action fantasy fiction figurative language first person flashback fluency foil folktale foreshadowing formal language fragment free verse friendly letter front cover future tense genre gerund glossary graph graphic graphic novel graphic organizer Greek root haiku heading historical fiction homograph homophone hook hyperbole idiom illustration illustrator imagery imperative sentence in medias res independent clause index inference infinitive informal language informational text informational writing informative essay interjection internal conflict interrogative sentence irony irregular plural noun irregular verb italics jargon juxtaposition key detail label Latin root left to right legend lesson letter limerick limited narrator listen literary criticism literary nonfiction logos lowercase letter main idea map media memoir metaphor meter middle misplaced modifier MLA format modal auxiliary verb monologue mood moral morphology motif multiple meaning word mystery myth narrative narrative writing narrator non sequitur nonfiction nonfiction text feature noun nuance omniscient narrator onomatopoeia opinion opinion writing outline oxymoron page paradox paragraph parallel structure paraphrase parenthetical expression participle passive voice past tense pathos pedantic perfect verb tense period personification persuade persuasive writing phonics photograph picture plagiarism plot plural noun poem point of view point of view shift possessive adjective possessive noun possessive pronoun predicate prediction prefix preposition prepositional phrase present tense primary source print problem problem and solution progressive verb tense pronoun propaganda proper noun protagonist proverb publish pun purpose question question mark quotation quotation marks realistic fiction red herring reflexive pronoun refute register regular verb relative adverb relative pronoun research question resolution retell revise revision rhetoric rhetorical question rhyme rhyme scheme rhyming words rising action root word run-on sentence satire scene science fiction second person secondary source semicolon sensory detail sentence sequence setting sidebar sight word simile simple sentence singular situational irony soliloquy solution sonnet space speak spine stage direction stanza static character story stream of consciousness subheading subject subjunctive mood subordinating conjunction subtext suffix summarize summary superlative adjective supporting detail suspense syllable syllogism symbolism synonym syntax table table of contents tall tale telling sentence text evidence text feature text structure text-dependent question text-to-self connection text-to-text connection text-to-world connection theme thesaurus thesis thesis defense thesis statement third person Tier 2 vocabulary Tier 3 vocabulary timeline title tone top to bottom topic topic sentence tragedy tragic flaw tragic hero transition word transitional phrase understatement unreliable narrator uppercase letter verb verbal verbal irony verisimilitude verse visualize voice vowel word word choice word family word origin word wall Works Cited

Social Studies

281 terms

abolition agriculture alliance amendment amendments ancestor ancient anti-federalist aqueduct archaeology archipelago artifact authority ballot barter basin Bill of Rights biodiversity border boycott branches of government calendar canyon capital capital resources capitalism cartography caste system celebration checks and balances citizen city civic duty civil disobedience civil rights civil war civilization climate climate zone coast Cold War colonialism colonist colony command economy commerce communism community compass compass rose compromise congress consent of the governed conservation constitution consumer continent cooperation country cultural diffusion culture currency custom debate declaration deforestation delta demand democracy democracy (ancient)demography desert dictatorship diplomacy direction due process dynasty earn economy election electoral college elevation emancipation empire encomienda Enlightenment entrepreneur equator erosion executive branch explorer export fairness family federalism federalist feudalism fiscal policy flag forest free enterprise freedom frontier future genocide geographic information system geography globalization globe goods government gross domestic product habeas corpus hemisphere hero hill history holiday human resources human rights immigrant immigration impeachment imperialism import income independence Industrial Revolution industrialization industry inflation infrastructure interdependence invention irrigation island Jim Crow laws job judicial branch judicial review labor union lake landform latitude law leader legend legislative branch local government location longitude magna carta manifest destiny map map key map scale market market economy mayor mercantilism migration mixed economy monarchy money monopoly monotheism monsoon monument mountain nationalism natural disaster natural resource natural resources natural rights needs neighborhood nomad ocean oligarchy opportunity cost past patriot patriotism peninsula petition pharaoh physical map pioneer plain plantation plateau pledge political map polytheism popular sovereignty population population density precedent present President price primary source prime meridian producer profit progressivism propaganda ratification recession Reconstruction Reconstruction amendments Reformation refugee region Renaissance representation republic resource responsibility revolution right rights river rule rural sanctions savanna save scale scarce scarcity school season secession secondary source sectionalism separation of powers services settler shelter silk road slavery sovereignty specialization spend state stock market strait subsistence farming suburb suffrage supply supply and demand sustainability symbol tariff tax taxes technology territory theocracy timeline topography totalitarianism trade trade route tradition transportation treaty triangular trade tributary tundra urban urbanization valley vegetation volunteer vote wants weather yesterday

Social-Emotional Learning

163 terms

accountability active listening adaptability advocacy agency ally angry anxiety apology assertive communication assertiveness belonging bias boundary boundary setting brave burnout bystander effect calm caring choice civic responsibility cognitive distortion collaboration communication community service compassion compromise confident conflict conflict resolution consent consequence consequences constructive feedback cooperation coping coping strategy critical thinking cultural awareness cultural competency curious decision deep breath delayed gratification different digital citizenship digital footprint diversity embarrassed emotion emotional intelligence emotional regulation emotional vocabulary empathetic listening empathy equity ethical dilemma ethical leadership ethics excited executive function fairness feeling feelings of others fixed mindset focus forgiveness friend frustrated generosity goal goal-setting gratitude grit growth mindset happy helping honesty identity impulse impulse control inclusion informed decision initiative integrity intersectionality introspection jealous kind leadership listening lonely media literacy mediation mentorship microaggression mindfulness moral reasoning motivation negotiation nervous organize overwhelmed patience peer pressure perseverance personal responsibility perspective perspective-taking positive relationship prejudice privilege problem problem-solving proud resilience respect responsibility restorative justice restorative practice right and wrong risk assessment routine sad safe scared self-advocacy self-awareness self-compassion self-concept self-control self-discipline self-efficacy self-esteem self-perception self-reflection self-regulation self-talk sharing shy social identity social justice social norm solution stereotype strength stress stress management surprised systemic inequality take turns teamwork time management tolerance trigger trust unintended consequences upstander values vulnerability wellness worried

K-8 Vocabulary Glossary

Browse by topic

Browse by subject and grade

Math

Science

English Language Arts

Social Studies

Social-Emotional Learning

Math

Science

English Language Arts

Social Studies

Social-Emotional Learning

Learn vocabulary through music