AEPA APK Elementary (NT051) key terms

The ability to notice and work with the individual sounds, called phonemes, in spoken words. It includes blending, segmenting, and manipulating sounds and is a foundation for learning to read.

The relationship between letters and the sounds they represent, and instruction in using those relationships to decode and spell words. It connects printed letters to spoken sounds.

The broader awareness of the sound structure of spoken language, including syllables, rhymes, and words in sentences, not just individual phonemes. It develops before and alongside phonemic awareness.

Using knowledge of letter-sound relationships to translate printed words into spoken words. It is a key skill for beginning readers and is supported by phonics instruction.

The ability to read text accurately, at a reasonable pace, and with appropriate expression. Fluent reading frees attention for understanding what is read.

The process of constructing meaning from text by combining what is read with background knowledge and strategies. It includes literal, inferential, and evaluative understanding.

A reader's organized background knowledge about a topic, used to interpret and connect with new information in a text. Activating prior knowledge supports comprehension.

The most important point a text conveys about its topic, often stated in a topic sentence or inferred from details. It differs from supporting details, which explain or illustrate it.

Restating the key ideas of a text briefly in one's own words, leaving out minor details. It is a comprehension strategy that shows understanding of the whole text.

Writing that tells a story, usually with characters, setting, plot, and a sequence of events. It may be fictional or based on personal experience.

Writing that explains, informs, or describes a topic using facts and clear organization rather than telling a story. It often uses headings, definitions, and examples.

The recursive stages writers use to produce text, typically prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. Instruction in the process helps students plan and improve their writing.

The value of a digit based on its position in a number, such as ones, tens, and hundreds. It underlies comparing, rounding, and computing with multi-digit numbers.

Trading units between place values, such as exchanging ten ones for one ten, to add or subtract multi-digit numbers. It is often called borrowing or carrying.

An intuitive understanding of numbers, their sizes, relationships, and how operations affect them. Students with strong number sense can estimate, compare, and judge whether answers are reasonable.

Finding an approximate answer or size using rounding or compatible numbers rather than exact computation. It builds number sense and helps check the reasonableness of results.

Approximating a number to a nearby value at a given place, such as the nearest ten or hundred, based on the digit to its right. It is a common estimation tool.

A number that represents part of a whole or part of a set, written as a numerator over a denominator. Fractions can be equivalent, compared, and used in operations.

Different fractions that name the same amount, such as one-half and two-fourths. Multiplying or dividing the numerator and denominator by the same number creates them.

A number written using a decimal point to show whole-number and fractional parts based on powers of ten. Decimals connect directly to fractions and place value.

An arrangement of objects in equal rows and columns, used to model multiplication and division and to build understanding of area. For example, three rows of four objects show three times four.

The amount of surface a two-dimensional shape covers, measured in square units. For rectangles it equals length times width.

The total distance around the outside of a closed two-dimensional shape, found by adding the lengths of its sides. It is measured in linear units.

A systematic approach to investigating questions that includes observing, asking a question, forming a hypothesis, experimenting, collecting data, and drawing conclusions. It guides fair tests and evidence-based explanations.

A testable prediction or proposed explanation for an observation, often stated as an if-then statement. It is tested through an experiment and may be supported or rejected by data.

Any factor in an experiment that can change or be changed. A controlled experiment changes one variable while keeping others constant to identify cause and effect.

The series of stages an organism passes through from birth to adulthood and reproduction, such as egg, larva, pupa, and adult in a butterfly. Patterns vary across plants and animals.

A model showing the flow of energy from producers to consumers and decomposers in an ecosystem. Arrows show the direction energy moves as organisms eat one another.

A community of living organisms interacting with each other and with the nonliving parts of their environment, such as water, soil, and sunlight. Energy and matter cycle within it.

The forms matter takes, commonly solid, liquid, and gas, based on how particles are arranged and move. Heating or cooling can cause changes between states.

A key on a map that explains the meaning of symbols, colors, and lines used. It helps readers interpret geographic information accurately.

A symbol on a map showing cardinal directions, north, south, east, and west, and often intermediate directions. It helps users orient themselves to a map.

On a map, the relationship between distance on the map and actual distance on the ground. It allows users to estimate real distances between places.

Firsthand evidence created during or by someone who experienced an event, such as letters, photographs, diaries, or artifacts. It differs from secondary sources, which interpret primary evidence.

A source that interprets, analyzes, or summarizes information from primary sources, such as textbooks or encyclopedias. It is one step removed from the original event.

A graphic display of events in chronological order along a line. It helps students understand sequence and cause-and-effect relationships in history.

The basic visual building blocks artists use, commonly line, shape, form, color, value, texture, and space. They are organized through principles of design.

Guidelines for organizing the elements of art, including balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, and unity. They describe how an artwork is composed.

A movement that travels the body from one place to another, such as walking, running, jumping, hopping, or skipping. It contrasts with nonlocomotor movements done in place.

A movement performed in place without traveling, such as bending, twisting, stretching, or balancing. It is sometimes called axial movement.

A set of attributes, including cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition, that allow a person to perform physical activity. It is developed through regular exercise.

An illness caused by pathogens such as bacteria or viruses that can spread from person to person or through the environment. Handwashing and vaccination help prevent them.