Science Vocabulary: Ecosystems

This week we will begin our study of ecosystems. Here are the words and definitions for this week.

Food Chain- The path of energy from one organism to another in an ecosystem.
Food Web- Overlapping food chains with different pathways for the flow of energy in an ecosystem.
Carnivore- An organism that only consumes other animals.
Herbivore- An organism that only consumes plants.
Omnivore- An organism that consumes both plants and animals.
Decomposer- An organism that consumes dead organisms.
Ecosystem- All the living and non living things that interact with each other in an environment.
Interact- When two or more organisms use or affect each other in any way.
Niche- The role an organism plays in its ecosystem, an organism's job.
Compete- When two or more organisms both want the same thing and have to fight over it.

Next Week's Vocabulary Words and a reminder

This week many of you are having trouble remembering the names of the places behind the decimals. Remember the t+h=th trick. T plus H equals TH. Tenths, hundredths, thousandths place. This is very important to remember. It will be coming up a lot this year and the sooner you are able to remember it the better off you will be grade wise. Here are next week's vocabulary words for science.

Microscope- A tool used to see very small things much closer than the human eye alone can.
Compass- A tool used to find which direction you are pointing to. North, East, South, West.
Balance Scale- A tool used to measure mass.
Hot Plate- A tool used to heat objects or liquids.
Eye Dropper- A tool used to transfer a small amount of liquid.
Graduated Cylinder- A tool used to measure or store liquids.
Syringe- A tool used to measure or transfer liquids.
Spring Scale- A tool used to measure a pulling force.
Telescope- A tool used to see objects a long distance away.
Collecting Net- A tool used to capture animals.

Science Vocabulary for next Week!

Beginning this week we will have weekly vocabulary words and quizzes in science. The quizzes will take place each Friday afternoon. You will receive a list every Monday. If you lose the list you will be able to find the words here. The list this week has to do with the scientific method. They are as follows:
Scientific Method- A step-by-step process used to find answers to questions about the world around us.
Hypothesis- A guess that can be tested by an experiment or observation.
Procedure- The steps you take in an experiment to find an answer to a question.
Data- Facts and information collected from an experiment or observation.
Record- Information about something that is written down so that it can be looket at in the future.
Independent Variable- The only part of an experiment that changes.
Controlled Variables- The part of an experiment that you must keep the same for all trials.
Repeated- To do something again.
Trial- Something you do to try to find the answer.
Reliability- how accurate or correct something is.

Questions regarding last night's tornado warning.

Like many of you, I noticed the tornado warning that was issued last night. Some of you have been asking me what the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning is. I will do my best to answer that here.
A tornado watch means, "watch out". It means that all the ingredients are in place for a tornado to happen. Scientists that study weather, called meteorologists and atmospheric scientists, are still trying to figure out what exactly causes a tornado to form. To summarize, a watch means a tornado may happen, but it may not. SO WATCH OUT!!!!!!!
A tornado warning means two things:
1. A tornado has been spotted and is in the area.
2. A radar has detected a "tornado signature".
During a tornado warning find shelter. Many of you have said you don't know where to go in case of a tornado. The best place to go is in a tornado cellar, but not many people have one. If, like most of us, you don't have a cellar, then go to the center most room or closet in your house. This is generally a bathroom or a closet. Put as many walls between you and your house's windows as possible. Try to have a radio or cell phone with you so that you can make sure it is okay to come out.
Tornadoes generally happen in the spring and early summer. However, they can happen anytime. We will talk much more in depth about weather this year. I can't wait!!!!

For more information on what a "tornado signature" is I have attached a link that will take you to an article that describes this. Another way of saying "tornado signature" is "hook echo". Thanks for reading! Remember, stay smart and you will stay safe!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hook_echo
Here is one about tornadoes in general!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado

Welcome!!!

Thanks for visiting!! I hope you will be able to find answers to any questions you may have here. If you do not, please post a question and I will do my best to answer it. I will keep you and your parents updated on what we are doing in class and provide links to useful websites.