October 26, 2009		WORD WORK 			Name___________________ 5-3__
This week’s words will focus on the economy.
boycott (n,v) – to stop buying a product or service in order to effect
change. Ex. Colonists boycotted British goods in the 1760s and 1770s
to protest high taxes. 
Constitution (n) – the document signed in 1787 that sets up the
American system of government and its basic laws. It was ratified
(approved) in 1788. Three years later, ten amendments were added –
called the Bill of Rights that protect freedoms. Ex. Freedom of speech
is protected in the first amendment to the Constitution. 
demand – the amount people want something. Ex. There is an increasing
demand for oil in China since more people now drive cars.
goods – an actual item bought by people or nations. Ex. The U.S.
imported $549.5 million worth of goods from Costa Rica in August,
2009. (Source:
http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c2230.html#2009 )
immigrant  (n,v) – a person who leaves one country to permanently
settle in another. Ex. John F. Kennedy’s grandparents were immigrants
from Ireland. Ex. There are thousands of immigrants from India living
in New York City. 
labor (n, v) – the act of working. Ex. Every September we honor the
American worker by celebrating Labor Day.
livestock (n) – domestic animals raised on a farm. Ex. European
colonists introduced livestock to the Americas: animals like sheep,
cows and pigs were raised on their farms. 
pioneer (n) – one who ventures into unknown territory. Ex. Settlers
who went west of the Appalachian Mountains were called pioneers.
purchase (n,v) – to buy, something that is bought. Ex. The United
States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million. 
rural (adj) – of, relating to, or characteristic of the country and
farming (agriculture). Ex. On the way to Albany we passed by rural
communities.
service  (n)– something one pays for that is not a good. Ex. Mark paid
his piano teacher $40 for his lesson; he was paying for a service.
supply (n) – the amount of an item that exists. Ex. The oil supply
decreased in the US  in 1973 after Arab nations boycotted the US and
stopped selling us oil. 
urban (adj) – having to do with cities. Ex. Brooklyn is an urban
environment.




October 13, 2009		WORD WORK			Name_____________________ 5-3___
This week’s words will focus on exploration and settlement.
  
1. century (n) – a period of 100 years. Ex. The Dutch settled New
Netherland in the 17th century. Ex. We are currently living in the
21st century.
2. claim (n,v) – to demand land for one’s own country. Ex. Henry
Hudson (c.1565-c.1611) claimed land for the Netherlands.
 3. colony (n) – a settlement controlled by a mother country. A person
who lives in a colony is called a colonist. Ex. New York City began as
a Dutch colony known as New Amsterdam, but was taken over by the
English in 1664.
4. expedition (n) – a journey taken with a  specific goal. Ex.
Verrazano led an expedition into New York Bay in 1524.
5. export (n,v) – to send goods abroad for trade or sale. Ex.
Colonists in America exported tobacco to Europe.
6. import (n) – to bring in goods from another country. Ex. Colonists
in America were able to import goods from Europe.
7. New World (n) – the lands of the western hemisphere. Ex. Europeans
called the Americas the New World because they did not know it existed
until Columbus’ voyage in 1492.
8. primary source (n) – an original historical document or artifact.
Ex. The Mayflower Compact was written by the Pilgrims in 1620 and is
an example of a primary source. 
 9. route (n) – a path from one place to another. Ex. European
explorers were searching for a route to Asia.
10. settlement (n)  - a community created by people in a new place. A
person living in a settlement is called a settler. Ex. The first
permanent English settlement in North America was created at
Jamestown, Virginia in 1607.
11. slave (n) – a person forced to work for a master. Ex. Africans
were brought to North America as slaves by Europeans.
12. surrender (n,v) – to officially give up. Ex. Governor Peter
Stuyvesant surrendered the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam to the
English in 1664.





Name_________________________  September 29, 2009	WORD WORK 
1. agriculture (n) – the science of farming and producing crops. Ex. 
Agriculture is a large part of the New York State economy.
2. census (n) – a survey taken every 10 years to see how many people 
live in the US.  Ex. The next US census will be taken in 2010.
3. council – an assembly of people who meet to make important 
decision. Ex. The Iroquois Grand Council is made up fifty sachems. 
4. culture – the language, customs and beliefs of a group. Ex. West 
Indian culture is celebrated in Brooklyn every September. 
5. longhouse (n) –  a long dwelling shared by Iroquois families. Ex. 
The Haudenosaunee were known as the People of the Longhouse.
6. wigwam(n) - A Native American (used by Algonquians) dwelling 
commonly having an arched or conical framework overlaid with bark, 
hides, or mats. Ex. Wigwams were made in the shape of a dome.
7. nomad (n) – a member of a group of people that move from place to 
place and do not live in one fixed place. Ex. The Algonquians were 
nomads.
8. nation (n) – a country or Native American tribe. Ex. The world’s 
largest nation by size is Russia.
9. increase (n) – to go up or get bigger. Ex. The population of NYC 
increased this past year.
10. sachem (n) – an Indian chief or leader. Ex. The highest leader 
of an Indian nation was its sachem.
11. veteran (n) – a person who has served in the military. Ex. John 
McCain is a veteran.
 




September 21, 2009			WORD WORK		
	Name_____________________
This week’s words will relate to the reading of maps. On Friday we
will have our first word work quiz. You are responsible for the
following words:
1. border – the line that separates two regions, state or countries.
Ex. New York shares a border with another country, Canada.
2. boundary – the line separaring two geographical units. Ex. The 
East
River forms the boundary between Brooklyn and Queens.
3. canal – an artificial (manmade) waterway used to ship people and
goods.  Ex.The Erie Canal in New York State connects Albany and 
Buffalo.
4. capital – the city where a government meets. Ex.The capital of
Massachusetts is Boston. 
5. continent – one of the seven largest landmasses in the world. Ex.
The seven continents are Europe, Asia, Australia, Antarctica, Africa,
North America and South America.
6. distance – the amount of space between two points. Ex. The 
distance
between Albany and Brooklyn is 155 miles.
7. equator – line of zero degrees latitude that splits the world into
the northern and southern hemispheres. Ex. The temperature is always
hottest at the equator.
8. geography – the study of the earth and its features. Ex.We use 
maps
to study geography.
9. hemisphere – half of the earth as divided by the prime meridian 
and
the equator. Ex.New York City is located in the western hemisphere 
and
the northern hemisphere.
10. landform – one of the features that makes up the earth’s surface.
Ex. A mountain is a type of landform.
11. latitude – a line that runs across the globe horizontally that
measures how far north or south you are. Ex. New York City is located
near 43 degrees latitude.
12. natural resource¬ – anything that occurs in nature that can be
used by people for food or economic gain. Ex. Oil is a key natural
resource.
13. population – the amount of people that lives in a certain area.
Ex. Brooklyn has the largest population of the five boroughs.
14. religion – the spiritual beliefs of a person or culture. Ex. The
main religion in the Republic of Ireland is Catholicism.