What's all the "Buzz" about?

What you need to do-
Please read the parent letter and the rules and regulations on the side tab bar. If you have a child in 4th or 5th grade, you need to print off each of the 14 different language sections and staple together or they can study them online. Have your child study these words for the next couple of months. The top 2 winners from our elementary will go on to the Iron County District Spelling Bee held at the District Office Building on March 13th. There will be some big prizes this year! Winner gets an ipad mini. If your child does not have access to the internet or paper to print, there are a few copies in the office that you could pick up.

If you have a child in 1st-3rd grade, you need to print off spelling list A & B and have your child study them for the next couple of months. If you cannot view list A, you just click on the button "older posts" at the bottom of the page and it will redirect to Spelling List A.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

4th-5th Grade Spelling List (9- New World)

condor- [kon-der, -dawr]- either of two large, New World vultures of the family Cathartidae, Gymnogyps californianus (California condor) or Vultur gryphus (Andean condor) the largest flying birds in the Western Hemisphere: the California condor is almost extinct; the Andean condor is greatly reduced in number and rare in many areas.  Biologists monitor their behavior on and off the refuge, and observe condor nesting sites on and adjacent to the refuge. 
choreograph- [kawr-ee-uh-graf, -grahf, kohr-]-verb- to provide the choreography for: to choreograph a musical comedy.   People can design and choreograph their own routines. 
curvaceous- [kur-vey-shuh s]-adj- (of a woman) having a well-shaped figure with voluptuous curves. Their bodies were curvaceous and softly inflated, with hardly a muscle in sight. 
daiquiri- [dahy-kuh-ree, dak-uh-]-noun- a cocktail of rum, lemon or lime juice, and sugar, often with the addition of fruit and ice and mixed in an electric blender. Yes, the city allows drive-through daiquiri service. 
delimiter- [dih-lim-i-ter]-noun- a blank space, comma, or other character or symbol that indicates the beginning or end of a character string, word, or data item.  In a standard full-line comment, the comment delimiter itself must always appear in column zero.
Massachusetts- [mas-uh-choo-sits]-noun- a state in the NE United States, on the Atlantic coast. 8257 sq. mi. (21,385 sq. km). Capital: Boston. Abbreviation: MA (for use with zip code), Mass. Massachusetts borders Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north. 
mastectomy- [ma-stek-tuh-mee]-noun- the operation of removing all or part of the breast or mamma. The number of deaths has decreased over the years but this early mastectomy is probably the cure for cancer.
iguana- [ih-gwah-nuh]-noun- a large, arboreal lizard, Iguana iguana, native to Central and South America, having stout legs and a crest of spines from neck to tail.  The iguana, which is not a true lizard, are vegetarians and are often found in trees.
hurricane- [hur-i-keyn, huhr- or, esp. British, -kuh n]-noun- a violent, tropical, cyclonic storm of the western North Atlantic, having wind speeds of or in excess of 72 miles per hour (32 m/sec).  After a slow start, the 2009 hurricane season is kicking off in a big way.
kahuna- [kuh-hoo-nuh]- (in Hawaii) a native medicine man or priest.  Every important skill was under the direction of kahuna. 
hogan- [hoh-gawn, -guh n]-noun- a Navajo Indian dwelling constructed of earth and branches and covered with mud or sod. A hogan is the traditional, sacred, home for the Navajo Indians. 
jerky- [jur-kee]-adj.- characterized by jerks or sudden starts; spasmodic.   Quicker and the scene looks jerky, slower and the scene gets boring.
muskrat- [muhsk-rat]-noun- a large, aquatic, North American rodent, Ondatra zibethica, having a musky odor.  The muskrat's eyes, nose and breathing system help it adapt to life underwater. 
hominy- [hom-uh-nee]-noun- whole or ground hulled corn from which the bran and germ have been removed by bleaching the whole kernels in a lye bath (lye hominy) or by crushing and sifting (pearl hominy).   To make hominy, the dried corn was soaked in a mixture of water and ashes for two days.
wigwam- [wig-wom, -wawm]-noun- an American Indian dwelling, usually of rounded or oval shape, formed of poles overlaid with bark, mats, or skins.  A wigwam can be a dome or rectangular shaped house. 
pampas- [pam-puh z; attributively pam-puh s]-noun- the vast grassy plains of southern South America, especially in Argentina.  The coastal plain lacks the stark grace of the desert or the umber panache of the pampas. 
caribou- [kar-uh-boo]-noun- any of several large, North American deer of the genus Rangifer, related to the reindeer of the Old World.   A caribou is a ruminant mammal that belongs to the deer family and is found in North America. 
toboggan- [tuh-bog-uh n]-noun- a long, narrow, flat-bottomed sled made of a thin board curved upward and backward at the front, often with low handrails on the sides, used especially in the sport of coasting over snow or ice.    It has been a park used year around with the sled and toboggan hill during the winter season. 
persimmon- [per-sim-uh n]-noun- any of several trees of the genus Diospyros, especially D. virginiana, of North America, bearing astringent, plumlike fruit that is sweet and edible when ripe.  Tea can also be made from fresh or dried persimmon leaves.
quinine- [kwahy-nahyn, kwin-ahyn]-noun- a white, bitter, slightly water-soluble alkaloid, C 2 0 H 2 4 N 2 O 2 , having needlelike crystals, obtained from cinchona bark: used in medicine chiefly in the treatment of resistant forms of malaria.  Most of the party had malaria, and could be kept going only by large doses of quinine. 
powwow- [pou-wou]-noun- (among North American Indians) a ceremony, especially one accompanied by magic, feasting, and dancing, performed for the cure of disease, success in a hunt, etc.  For all of the dancers, it would be their first powwow. 
bayou- [bahy-oo, bahy-oh]-noun- a marshy arm, inlet, or outlet of a lake, river, etc., usually sluggish or stagnant.  In this quiet fishing village nestled in bayou country, the anger for injustice is epidemic. 
coyote- [kahy-oh-tee, kahy-oht]-noun- Also called prairie wolf; a buffy-gray, wolflike canid, Canis latrans, of North America, distinguished from the wolf by its relatively small size and its slender build, large ears, and narrow muzzle.  On the edges of a sheep farm, a coyote lurks, licking his chops. 
tamale- [tuh-mah-lee]-noun- a Mexican dish made of minced and seasoned meat packed in cornmeal dough, wrapped in corn husks, and steamed.  A tamale is a Mexican dish that has pork or beef roast shredded on the inside of the cooked dough made out of corn meal. 
poi- [poi, poh-ee]-noun- a Hawaiian dish made of the root of the taro baked, pounded, moistened, and fermented.  The taro is harvested and cooked in an underground oven before it can be made into Poi. 
cashew- [kash-oo, kuh-shoo]-noun- a tree, Anacardium occidentale, native to tropical America, having milky juice, simple, leathery leaves, and yellowish-pink flowers in open clusters.   Dinner entrees range from almond and cashew chicken to wok-charred beef.
luau- [loo-ou, loo-ou]-noun- a feast of Hawaiian food, usually held outdoors and usually accompanied by Hawaiian entertainment.  The wedding party celebrated with a private reception and luau.
totem- [toh-tuh m]-noun- a natural object or an animate being, as an animal or bird, assumed as the emblem of a clan, family, or group.   These are sensible ideas, but radical in a country where energy is still a nationalist totem. 
mahimahi- [mah-hee-mah-hee]-noun- the dolphinfish, especially when used as a food fish.  Grilled filet of mahimahi is another one of our favorites, as is the grilled filet of hake. 
hickory- [hik-uh-ree, hik-ree]-noun- any of several North American trees belonging to the genus Carya, of the walnut family, certain species of which bear edible nuts or yield a valuable wood.   In baseball's early days, hickory and oak were often used, but these are too heavy now. 
cacao- [kuh-kah-oh, -key-oh]-noun- a small tropical American evergreen tree, Theobroma cacao, cultivated for its seeds, the source of cocoa, chocolate, etc.  First there was the native cacao tree, from whose fruit chocolate is made. 
Kona- [koh-nuh]-noun- resort area, Hawaii county, on the west-central coast of Hawaii island, Hawaii, U.S. The western coast of the island of Hawaii is known as Kona, and Kailua is its largest town, hence the name Kailua-Kona for the entire region.   Kona is the home of the famous Ironman Triathalon. 
malihini- [mah-lee-hee-nee]-noun- a newcomer to Hawaii. The word malihini means newcomer which
is still utilized today 

wikiwiki-[wee-kee-wee-kee]-adj.- quickly, fast. We must get to the meeting wikiwiki. 
tuckahoe- [tuhk-uh-hoh]-noun- Also called Indian bread- the edible, underground sclerotium of the fungus Poria cocos, found on the roots of trees in the southern United States.  The word tuckahoe first appears on a map drawn by Captain John Smith in 1612. 
pecan- [pi-kahn, -kan, pee-kan]-noun- a tall hickory tree, Carya illinoinensis, of the southern U.S. and Mexico, cultivated for its oval, smooth-shelled, edible nuts: The pecan tree is the state tree of Texas. 
chipotle- [chi-poht-ley]-noun- a pungent red pepper, often pickled and eaten as an appetizer or added to meat stews, sauces, etc. Place all chipotle ingredients in food processor and chop.
skunk- [skuhngk]-noun- a small North American mammal, Mephitis mephitis, of the weasel family, having a black coat with a white, V-shaped stripe on the back, and ejecting a fetid odor when alarmed or attacked. Skunks usually nest in burrows constructed by other animals, but they also live in hollow logs or even abandoned buildings. 
woodchuck- [woo d-chuhk]-noun- a stocky North American burrowing rodent, Marmota monax, that hibernates in the winter.   Moles and a woodchuck wreak havoc with the blossoms in the garden.
chocolate- [chaw-kuh-lit, chok-uh-, chawk-lit, chok-]-noun- a preparation of the seeds of cacao, roasted, husked, and ground, often sweetened and flavored, as with vanilla.   Satisfying your craving for chocolate is easy, no matter where you are in the world.
muumuu- [moo-moo]-noun- a long, loose-hanging dress, usually brightly colored or patterned, worn especially by Hawaiian women.   Muumuu's are usually worn by older women and housewives to indicate to the public that they are not available to any other man. 
puma- [pyoo-muh, poo-]-noun- cougar, Also called- mountain lion a large American feline mammal, Felis concolor, that resembles a lion, having a plain greyish-brown coat and long tail. Staring down a puma can let the animal know you're aware it's looking, though distance can reduce its effectiveness. 
tomato- [tuh-mey-toh, -mah-]-noun- ny of several plants belonging to the genus Lycopersicon, of the nightshade family, native to Mexico and Central and South America, especially the widely cultivated species L. lycopersicum, bearing a mildly acid, pulpy, usually red fruit eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable.  Two mutations turned a tiny, wild fruit into the modern large, luscious tomato. 
maraca- [muh-rah-kuh, -rak-uh]-noun- a gourd or a gourd-shaped rattle filled with seeds or pebbles and used, often in a pair, as a rhythm instrument.  Plena ensembles sometimes added a conga drum and a single maraca as well as a trumpet, clarinet or accordion. 
petunia- [pit-oo-nyuh, -nee-uh, -tyoo-]-noun- any garden plant belonging to the genus Petunia, of the nightshade family, native to tropical America, having funnel-shaped flowers of various colors.   In the packing carton were three small begonias plus some petunia seedlings. 
jaguar- [jag-wahr, -yoo-ahr]-noun- a large spotted feline, Panthera onca, of tropical America, having a tawny coat with black rosettes: now greatly reduced in number and endangered in some areas.  The next day the rancher finds the remains and the telltale tracks of a jaguar. 
buccaneer- [buhk-uh-neer]-noun- any of the piratical adventurers who raided Spanish colonies and ships along the American coast in the second half of the 17th century.  The term buccaneer is now used generally as a synonym for pirate. 
llama- [lah-muh]-noun- a woolly-haired South American ruminant of the genus Lama, believed to be a domesticated variety of the guanaco: often used as a beast of burden.  The area offers a unique guided llama trekking tour on the hiking trails in the mountains. 
succotash- [suhk-uh-tash]-noun- a cooked dish of kernels of corn mixed with shell beans, especially lima beans, and, often, with green and sweet red peppers.   Beans and corn were often boiled together to make succotash.   
caucus- [kaw-kuh s]-noun-U.S. Politics- a meeting of party leaders to select candidates, elect convention delegates, etc.   As little as a week before the caucus the polls were still showing him in fourth or fifth place. 
wampum- [wom-puhm, wawm-]-noun- literally 'means white' shell; cylindrical beads made from shells, pierced and strung, used by North American Indians as a medium of exchange, for ornaments, and for ceremonial and sometimes spiritual purposes, especially such beads when white but also including the more valuable black or dark-purple varieties. Wampum are shell beads that are of cultural significance to the Native Americans of the Northeast. 
mole- [moh-ley]-noun- a spicy sauce flavored with chocolate, usually served with turkey or chicken. They served their delicious mole sauce with the roasted turkey. 
toucan- [too-kan, -kahn, too-kahn]-noun- any of several usually brightly colored, fruit-eating birds of the family Ramphastidae, of tropical America, having a very large bill.   In a world of birds that includes the flamingo, the toucan and the bald eagle, it can't be much fun to be a pigeon.
Challenge Words
opossum- [uh-pos-uh m, pos-uh m]-noun- a prehensile-tailed marsupial, Didelphis virginiana, of the eastern U.S., the female having an abdominal pouch in which its young are carried: noted for the habit of feigning death when in danger.  Instead, the opossum uses its tail as a brace and a fifth limb when climbing. 
terrapin- [ter-uh-pin]- any of several edible North American turtles of the family Emydidae, inhabiting fresh or brackish waters, especially the diamondback terrapin: some are threatened or endangered. Frogs and terrapin belong to a lower order of animals than fish or reptiles.
ocelot- [os-uh-lot, oh-suh-]-noun- a spotted leopardlike cat, Felis pardalis, ranging from Texas through South America: now greatly reduced in number and endangered in the U.S.  The rain forest also house several kinds of large cats including jaguar, ocelot and pumas. 
hoomalimali-[ho-uh-mah-lee-mah-lee]-noun- something designed primarily to attract favorable attention, but usually not serving the purpose for which it was made.   I thought the soap in the hotel suite was a mere hoomalimali.
coati- [koh-ah-tee]-noun- any tropical American carnivore of the genus Nasua, related to the raccoon, having an elongated body, long, ringed tail, and a slender, flexible snout.  Kermit hunted industriously and brought in an occasional armadillo, coati, or agouti for the naturalists.
jacamar- [jak-uh-mahr]-noun- any tropical American bird of the family Galbulidae, having a long bill and usually metallic green plumage above.  At an open spot he tried to attract bronzy jacamar by playing back his call.
ipecac- [ip-i-kak]-noun- a drug consisting of the dried roots of this plant, used as an emetic, purgative, etc., and as the source of emetine.  Ipecac is a medicine commonly used to induce vomiting in cases of accidental poisoning.
menhaden- [men-heyd-n]-noun- any marine clupeid fish of the genus Brevoortia, especially B. tyrannus, resembling a shad but with a more compressed body, common along the eastern coast of the U.S., and used for making oil and fertilizer.  Giant oyster reefs there have long since been harvested, as have the menhaden.
sachem- [sey-chuh m]-noun- the chief of a tribe.  Nearly all the American Indian tribes had two grades of chiefs, who may be distinguished as sachems and common chiefs.

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