Use the glossary to support students with key terms and help them build confidence in scientific vocabulary as they work through the lessons.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Abiotic Stress | Negative impact of environmental factors such as high CO2 levels, high light, drought, etc. on plants. |
| Agriculture | Growing crops and farming animals for food, clothing etc. |
| Biomass | A type of energy like fuel or wood. |
| Carbon Dioxide (CO2) | A gas in the air that forms Earth’s atmosphere. Plants use it to make food through photosynthesis. |
| Chlorophyll | Green pigment in plants that absorbs sunlight to make food. |
| Climate | Weather conditions in an area over a long period of time. |
| Climate Change | Long-term changes in weather patterns linked to global warming. |
| Crops | Plants grown on a large scale for food or animal feed. |
| Drought | A long period with little or no rainfall. |
| Environment | The surroundings where living organisms live. |
| Etiolation | When a plant grows pale and stretched due to lack of light. |
| Genetics | The study of genes and inheritance. |
| Glucose | Sugar made by plants during photosynthesis. |
| Harvest | Collecting crops from the field. |
| Maize | Another word for corn. |
| Minerals | Nutrients in soil that help plants grow. |
| Pathogen | Tiny organisms that cause disease. |
| Photosynthesis | Process where plants use carbon dioxide and water to make glucose. |
| Plant Defence | Ways plants protect themselves from disease and pests. |
| Plant Hormones | Natural chemicals that control plant growth and development. |
| Plant Pigments | Chemicals that give plants different colours. |
| Plant Science | Study of how plants grow and develop. |
| Pollution | Harmful substances in air, water or soil. |
| Salinity | Amount of salt dissolved in water. |
| Seed Germination | When a new plant grows from a seed. |
| Seedling | A young plant grown from seed. |
| Senescence | When plant leaves age and eventually die. |
| Solution | A mixture where one substance dissolves into another. |
| Stomata | Tiny openings on leaves that allow gas exchange. |
| Stomatal Movements | Opening and closing of stomata. |
| Transpiration | Plants releasing water through stomata. |
