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K-6 Vocabulary You Should Know

Top 10 Social Studies Skills & Methods Terms:
  1. generalization – statement that applies to the whole idea/topic, not a specific part
  2. graphic organizers – any type of chart, diagram, map, table to help organize ideas/information into an easy to read format
  3. primary source – original records of an event; can include diary, photo, letters, eyewitness reports, official records of event, artifacts
  4. secondary source – writing & interpretation of later writers who’ve reviewed information in primary sources; can include textbooks, trade books, encyclopedia articles
  5. cause & effect – items/events that led to other items/events
  6. bias – point of view or beliefs that may influence someone’s work
  7. fact vs. opinion – statement that can be proven to be true versus an expression of someone’s belief
  8. credibility of sources – evaluating how reliable or trustworthy a source/author is
  9. relevant information – ideas/materials related to the matter at hand
  10. paraphrase – to take an idea from another source and put it into your own words

Top 10 Geography Terms:

  1. map key – explains what the symbols on a map mean
  2. rural – farmland, ranches, out “in the country”
  3. urban – city
  4. suburban – small town; areas around large cities
  5. urbanization – movement of people into cities
  6. push/pull factors – reasons people migrate; push (oppression, poverty, political conflict, environmental factors) pull (freedom, economic opportunities, cultural ties)
  7. oppression – holding down, denying freedoms/rights; unjust or abusive use of power
  8. directional indicators – used on a map to show absolute locations; may be cardinal (N-S-E-W) or intermediate (NW-NE-SE-SW)
  9. uneven distribution – not all places having an equal amount of resources
  10. modifying environment – ways people change nature; such as building dams, roads, building towns & cities, starting farms, producing & using energy
     

Top 10 Economic Terms:

  1. trade-off – giving up one thing for another
  2. opportunity cost – trade-off often described as “next best thing”
  3. goods – objects that people make and use
  4. services – activities people do for others
  5. allocation methods – how a society decided “who gets what”
  6. import – goods & services produced outside of a country that are brought into the country
  7. export – goods that producers in a country sell outside their country
  8. production vs. consumption – how much is made compared to how much is used
  9. limited vs. unlimited resources – resources that can be depleted compared to resources that can replenish themselves (AKA non-renewable and renewable resources)
  10. wants vs. needs – what people would like to have to make life enjoyable versus what people must have for survival
     

Top 10 History Terms:

  1. cultural patterns – models for how societies live (similar traits/characteristics)
  2. heritage – traditions ancestors have passed down to their descendants
  3. colonization – setting up colonies away from “mother country”
  4. industrialization – when an area moves from agriculture to manufacturing
  5. domestication – process of taming wild animals (to keep & breed animals instead of hunt)
  6. governance – right to rule
  7. BCE/CE – Before the Common Era (AKA BC); In the Common Era (AKA AD)
  8. cultural contributions – advancements or achievements made by a society in any of the 12 characteristics of culture
  9. leaders (scientific, social, political & religious) – people who direct or take lead in an area

10. settlement patterns – the common reasons how/where/why people settle
 

Top 10 Peoples in Society Terms:

  1. migration – movement from one place to another
  2. political oppression – unjust/abusive power; denying freedoms based on political beliefs/ideals
  3. religious oppression – unjust/abusive power; denying freedoms based on religious beliefs/ideals
  4. minority groups – smaller groups of like people within a larger group
  5. consequence – conclusion or result of an action
  6. Buddhism – religion of eastern and central Asia growing out of the teachings of Buddha; searching and striving for enlightenment
  7. Hinduism – dominant polytheistic religion of India emphasizing dharma or the eternal law that all life should follow and live by (all animals & humans are sacred)
  8. Judaism – monotheistic religion developed by ancient Hebrews; characterized by a belief in one god
  9. Christianity – monotheistic religion from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred scripture and taught by Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant groups
  10. Islam – monotheistic religious faith of Muslims including belief in Allah as the sole deity and in Muhammad as his profit

 

Top 10 Government Terms:

  1. sovereignty – supreme power
  2. inherited powers – when powers are passed down through family ties
  3. authority –  power to rule/make decisions
  4. legitimate authority – who has the right to rule for an area
  5. public services – provided to citizens by government such as defense, police, public education, postal service, fire protection, pubic TV and radio, etc.
  6. primary functions – first/most important role or duty
  7. diplomacy – practice of conducting negotiations between countries (treaties, reaching compromises, etc.)
  8. order & security – duty of government to provide rules/safety
  9. U.S. Constitution – written in 1787; plan for United States government (explains powers of government & its organization)

10. Declaration of Independence – document written by colonists explaining why they wanted to break away & be independent from Great Britain
 

Top 10 Citizenship, Rights & Responsibilities Terms:

  1. cooperation – working together for mutual benefit
  2. accountability – having ability to answer for; living up to responsibilities
  3. common/public good or welfare – what is in the best interest of the population
  4. obligation – commitment; something one is bound (by law, duty, or conscience) to do
  5. consensus – general agreement
  6. compromise – agreement in which both sides give up something to find a solution
  7. persistence – stand firm; continue to act on beliefs even through difficulties
  8. naturalization – act of becoming a citizen (when not born into)
  9. principles of justice – underlying meaning of law/fairness; “what is right”

10. systems of government – ways or methods of ruling people (common examples include monarchy, dictatorship, democracy and republic)

 





 
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