Vocabulary List
The following is taken from the 2003 Edition of the General Characteristics of the Science WASL produced by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The following terms are a summary of the vocabulary that may be used on the Science WASL without definitions. More terms may be used with definitions or examples as noted in the Item Specifications (available from OSPI). The plural form of all these words is assumed useable. However, other forms of these words are not accepted unless specified.
Terms that build through the grade levels are listed below, and appear in the Science WASL, with the higher grade term in parenthesis.
Terms related to Balance and Motion
variable kept the same (controlled)
variable changed (manipulated)
energy of motion
stored energy
learned (acquired)
state of matter
heat energy
This list of scientific vocabulary identifies 5th Grade concepts and processes related to the Balance & Motion module and described in the science EALRs that all students should know without explanation. These are not meant to be exclusive terms used in the science curriculum. The science curriculum should build in-depth understanding of these concepts and processes using many instructional activities and other supporting terms. There will never be a WASL item that asks a student to define a term. WASL items ask students to use concepts named by these terms.
• Balance scale
• Conclusion
• Data
• Describe
• Design
• Diagram
• Direction
• Effect
• Explain
• Gravity
• Material
• Observe
• Observation
• Object
• Part
• Predict
• Problem
• Procedure
• Shape
• Size
• Solve
• System
• Weight