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Grade 7 Science Vocabulary · Trimester 2, Topic 2.1

Thermal Energy Transfer

How thermal energy moves from warmer to cooler matter by conduction, convection, and radiation, and how conductors and insulators speed it up or slow it down.

Ohio science standards in this unit

  • 7.PS.4 · Energy transfer & wavesEnergy can be transferred through a variety of ways.

14 science words (Tier 3) and 6 academic words (Tier 2). Every word has a plain-language definition and an example sentence, written to support WIDA's Standard 4 (Science) English Language Development standard.

One word list, many ways to practice

These are the same 14 words, used in different tools. Students can start any of them right away. No student accounts or sign-in.

See the words in a picture

Label the Diagram: Three ways thermal energy moves

A pot of water on a flame with arrows looping inside the water, a metal spoon sticking out, and a dark handle. To the right, the sun sends wavy arrows down to a dark block on the grass.

Students place 5 words on numbered spots: conduction, convection, radiation, insulator, conductor. They can turn on meanings and hear each word read aloud.

Teachers: open the same picture in ELLEvision to move labels, add words or audio, and publish your own version. ELLEvision needs a teacher sign-in.

Label the diagram

Break words into meaningful parts

Build It in ELLEments

Science words are often built from smaller parts. 9 words in this unit come with their parts ready, so students can hear each word, read it in a sentence, and build it from its pieces.

  • thermal energythermalenergy

    A full bathtub of warm water holds a lot of thermal energy.

  • particleparticle

    Each particle moves faster when the water is hot.

  • conductionconduction

    Conduction made the metal spoon hot.

  • convectionconvection

    Convection carries warm air up to the ceiling.

  • radiationradiation

    You feel radiation from a campfire on your face.

Tier 2 · Academic language

Words students need to talk and write about this unit

These are not science words, but students meet them in every task and question. Pre-teach them alongside the science words.

plan
To decide the steps before you do something.
“Plan a test to compare three cups.”
implement
To put a plan into action.
“Implement your design and record the temperature.”
compare
To tell how things are alike and different.
“Compare how fast the metal and wooden spoons warm up.”
data
Facts and numbers collected to learn something.
“Graph the temperature data every minute.”
rate
How fast something happens.
“Which cup has the slowest rate of cooling?”
explain
To make something clear by telling how or why it happens.
“Explain why the handle stays cool.”

Focused practice sets

Shorter word sets on one part of this unit, with extra activities and beginner support.

Thermal Energy Transfer

Open the focused set and its activities.

Open set

Study guide

Words are grouped by the standard they support. Blue tiles show a word’s parts.

Energy transfer & waves (7.PS.4)

thermal energythermalenergy
The total energy of the moving particles in a substance; we feel it as heat.A full bathtub of warm water holds a lot of thermal energy.
heat
Thermal energy moving from a warmer object to a cooler one.Heat flowed from the cocoa into my cold hands.
temperature
A measure of how fast the particles in something are moving, on average.The temperature of the soup dropped as it sat.
particleparticle
A very small piece of matter, such as an atom or molecule.Each particle moves faster when the water is hot.
conductionconduction
Heat moving by direct touch from one thing to another.Conduction made the metal spoon hot.
convectionconvection
Heat moving through a liquid or gas as warm material rises and cool material sinks.Convection carries warm air up to the ceiling.
convection current
A loop of moving fluid where warm material rises and cool material sinks.A convection current keeps the soup moving in the pot.
radiationradiation
Energy that travels as waves, even through empty space, like heat from the sun.You feel radiation from a campfire on your face.
conductorconductor
A material that lets heat flow through it easily.A metal pot is a good conductor.
insulatorinsulator
A material that slows the flow of heat.The plastic handle is an insulator, so it stays cool.
thermal equilibrium
When two objects reach the same temperature, so no more heat flows between them.The ice water and the glass reached thermal equilibrium.
fluid
Any material that can flow, such as a liquid or a gas.Air is a fluid, so it can carry heat by moving.
absorbabsorb
To take in energy or matter.Dark pavement can absorb a lot of sunlight.
solar energysolarenergy
Energy that comes from the sun.A solar oven traps solar energy to cook food.

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