Instructional Vocabulary

The following lists of words are vocabulary words from the stories in your child’s reading textbook.

edge: form an edge or border

border: put an edging on

seasons: the four parts of the year: spring, summer, fall, and winter

village: a group of houses and sometimes stores, smaller than a town

adobe: a brick made out of sun-baked clay

meadow: an area of grassy land

terrible: awful; very bad

miserable: very unhappy

imaginary: make-believe; only in the mind

thatched: covered or made with straw or leaves

carpenter: a worker who builds with wood

Baobab: a huge tree of Africa that bears white flowers and a fruit known as monkey bread

Frangipani: a shrub with big, sweet-smelling flowers

lumber: boards made from trees

seedling: young plant grown froma seed

experiment: a test carried out under certain conditions to learn something

extraterrestrial: from outer space

aloft: up in the air

specimen: sample from a large group

jettison: throw overboard from an aircraft or ship

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submarine: a type of ship that can travel underwater

school: a large group of the same kind of fish swimming together

microscope: an instrument with lenses for making tiny things look larger

ocean floor: the very bottom of the ocean

prey: an animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal

ice-chisel: a tool with a strong, sharp-edged blade for cutting or shaping ice

tundra: a large, flat, treeless plain in arctic lands

seabed: the bottom of the ocean

lever: a bar that is rested on a support and pushed down at one end to lift a weight at the other end

pry: raise or move with a lever or crowbar

salvage: the process of saving material or goods from damage, destruction, or going to waste

investor: someone who gives money to others to do business or research

venture: an activity in which there is a risk of losing something

cargo: the load of goods carried by a ship, airplane, truck, or other vehicle

marine archaeologist: a person who studies objects of the past found in or near the ocean

artifact: an object made by humans that is of interest to people who study long-ago times and people

restoration: the act of returning something to its earlier condition

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solemn: serious

announce: state; make it known

glare: stare angrily

glower: look at angrily

glisten: shine

splendid: grand; very fine

intricate: having many small details

glorious: wonderful

independent: able to think and act for yourself

translator: person who changes words from one language to another

harness: connected straps used to lead an animal

Braille: a writing system that uses raised dots for the alphabet and other symbols

cringe: to draw back or shake with fear

embarrassed: uncomfortable and ashamed

privileges: special favors you are allowed to have

comfortable: making you feel good or relaxed

fidgety: restless, feeling jumpy

schedule: a list that tells when things will happen

impatient: not wanting to wait

expect: looking forward to something

silhouette: an outline of a person or thing, such as a shadow

mottled: covered with spots or streaks of different colors

excitement: strong feelings caused by pleasant or unpleasant events

confused: feeling mixed up

cautiously: with great care and attention

relieved: freed from worry

expression: the look on someone’s face

dignified: showing quiet pride

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raucous: loud and rough-sounding

din: a loud noise that doesn’t stop

average: the usual kind or amount

contestant: a person who takes part in a contest

participant: a person who takes part in a game or an activity

compete: to take part in a contest

diversion: something that draws a person’s attention away

anxious: worried, nervous; eagerly waiting

lumber: to move along in a heavy way

shinny: to climb, using the knees, as up a tree or a pole

sashay: to move along easily or to walk as if you are showing off

aftermath: the result of an event that causes harm

bounty: large amount, usually of food or money

appetizer: a small amount of tasty food served before a meal

reluctance: not wanting to do something

scheme: to make secret plans

superstitious: believing in ideas that are unreal or magical

delicate: easily hurt; not strong

peddler: a person who sells things along a street or door to door

luscious: delicious, very good tasting

fortune: a large amount of money; riches

quench: to put an end to or stop

toil: to work hard

peculiar: strange or odd

nimble: quick and light

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gasp: breathe in suddenly in surprise

quality: having excellence or worth

belch: throw out with force

foul: having a bad smell, taste, or appearance; dirty

maximum: greatest possible amount or number

haze: fine mist, smoke, or dust in the air

tanker: a ship with large tanks for carrying liquids

crude oil: oil as it comes out of the ground, before it is made into other things used by people

oil terminal: a place where oil tankers unload their oil

boom: a floating fence around an oil spill that stops it from spreading

skimmer: a machine for removing oil that is floating on water

chemical: something made by or used in chemistry

debris: trash; scattered leftovers of something that has been wrecked or thrown away

bacteria: tiny living cells that can be seen only through a microscope

dignity: the quality of being worthy of respect

despair: loss of hope

drought: a long period of dry weather with little or no rain

refuge: a safe place to stay

mercy: kindness to an enemy or a guilty person; the power to forgive or be kind

compassion: a feeling of being sorry for others and wanting to help them; pity

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gaping: wide open

cog: in a machine, sharp points on a wheel that help the wheel turn

miniature: very small in scale or size

poised: balanced; staying still but about to move

hearth: the brick or stone floor of a fireplace

faithfully: every time without fail

wallowing: rolling about in something soft

lather: to cover something with soapsuds

exchange: to trade

unconscious: alive, but not able to think, or to see, hear, or feel anything

operation: a treatment that a doctor gives a sick person so that he or she gets well

bundle: to wrap up

delay: to put off until a later time

fail: to not succeed

urgent: important; needing action right away

absentminded: not paying attention

assurance: words that make someone feel safe or more sure

nuisance: a bother, a pest

confess: admit

inspiration: a sudden, bright idea

suppress: hold back

fluster: cause to feel unsure or upset

April 29, 2000