Reading 3

Expanding Vocabulary

Have you ever had the experience of looking up a word in the dictionary, but the definition didn’t really help you understand the word?

Allyl: The unsaturated radical C3H5, derived from propene. 

Defining Words

When learning new vocabulary, often just reading the definition is not enough to really understand the word. You often need to dig deeper to really make it part of your working knowledge.

This is especially important when building your science and social studies vocabulary for the GED test.

Huh?

Biome Biome-a major regional or global biotic communityWord Parts: bio = lifeExamples: grassland, desert, forest, tundraAttributes: biomes are determined by the dominant forms of plant life and prevailing climate. Different from ecosystem in that ecosystem groups all things in an ecological region that exist together, including human, plant, animal, chemical features. – More localized.

-a major regional or global biotic community

Try it out – which is better?

Social Studies Topics1. Civics and government – 50%2. US history – 20%3. Economics – 15%4. Geography and the world – 15%Focusing themes: “Development of Modern Liberties and Democracy” – events and people through history that have shaped our culture“Dynamic Responses in Societal Systems” – how people and social structures and policies change in response to conditions, situations, events. These could be natural events such as geographic features, or man-made situations such as government policies.

Social Studies on the GED

Science Topics1. Life Science – 40%2. Physical Science – 40%3. Earth and space science – 20% Focusing themes:“Human Health and Living Systems” – characteristics of humans and other living things (ex. disease, evolution, heredity, etc) -also includes how human society and the environment effect each other“Energy and Related Systems” – sources, transformations, and uses of energy; how energy flows through ecosystems

Science on the GED

Look at sample Science practice test question related to parasitic fungi.

Sample Science Question

ProjectYou will give a short presentation to the class to teach them a science or social studies vocabulary concept.ObjectivesUse visual aids to increase the depth of understanding of new or difficult vocabularyBegin a personal dictionary of science/social studies vocabularyUse good communication skills to give a short presentation.StagesStage 1: Practice with the chartStage 2: Roots, prefixes, suffixesStage 3: Practice presentation skillsStage 4: Short presentations

Science/Social Studies Vocabulary Assignment Overview

Stage 1: Practicing with word chartsUsing the science article that you have already printed out1. Choose a vocabulary word or concept that is not too difficult, but also that is not

Today’s Assignment