Spelling+Bee

In December, we will be having a Spelling Bee to determine who is the best G7 speller. Obviously, the Spelling Bee will be in English.

Here are the rules we will be using:

= Spelling Bee Rules & Regulations = By [|Timothy Sexton] Spelling bee rules and regulations can vary according to the host, but the official rules are determined by the famous Scripps National Spelling Bee. The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the Super Bowl of spelling bees lays the foundation for all serious bees across the country.

Official Dictionary
1. When it comes to spelling bees nothing is more important than making sure the spelling is proper. The official source to determine the proper spelling in a spelling bee is Webster's Third New International Dictionary. All words that are used in a spelling bee can be found in this edition of the Webster's Dictionary.

Time
2. Each speller has exactly two minutes and 30 seconds to provide the proper spelling. This official time begins from the second the announcer says the word that is to be spelled. For the first minute and 45 seconds the speller can see a green light, after which the light turns to yellow for 15 seconds. At the two minute mark the light turns red and speller also sees a timer counting down the final 30 seconds.

Misunderstood Words
3. The speller himself is held responsible any misunderstanding of a word with the following exceptions. The pronouncer must give the correct pronunciation of a word. The pronouncer must provide correct information regarding definition, the country of origin and the part of speech. The speller is also not held accountable if he spells a homonym and the pronouncer fails to distinguish the two words.

Elimination
4. The speller is automatically eliminated if he misspells a word and none of the rules regarding misunderstanding applies. All the spellers that are eliminated within the same round will be considered tied for that placing in the final results. There are no eliminations in the preliminary round because Round One consists of spelling 50 words using a computer. Only 25 of the words will count toward the preliminary scores of each speller.

Pronunciation Repetition
5. During a spelling bee the speller traditionally repeats the word before and after he has spelled. Spellers are encouraged to do this in order to make sure they heard the word correctly. It is entirely a misconception that a speller can be disqualified if she fails to pronounce the word either before or after spelling it.

Stopping
6. A speller is allowed to stop at any point during the spelling process and begin again from the beginning. However, he is not allowed to change any letters that he began with before the point at which he stopped. If every letter in the process is not the same as it was before he stopped, the speller can be eliminated.

Final Two
7. The rules change when the competition gets down to the final two. If the first speller misses a word, the second speller must correctly spell that word and then another in order to win. If the second speller spells misspells the new word, then the first speller gets the chance to correct it. If he spells it correctly he then gets a new word and if he spells that word correctly he is declared the winner.

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[] = How to Prepare for a Spelling Bee =

[] Many school districts hold an annual spelling bee. If your child is already a good speller, you may want to get them going on some of these sites to practice ahead of time. 1. Learner.org -Interactives "Spelling Bee"

[] This site allows your child to start at a low level and continue up to a college level at their own pace. Teachers might want to use this during their computer lab time or during centers to help prepare their whole class. 2. My Spell It

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This site provides a list of "must know" words as well as a menu of choices of words derived from various other language. 3. Here is a spelling bee prep game from Quia: []

Here is the list of words we will be using for the G7 Spelling Bee. Remember that you can use online dictionaries to learn how these words are pronounced. Also, remember how important it can be to ask for the definition of the word, as well as its use in a sentence.

** G7 Spelling Bee Words ** Grade Level Words

aloof altogether autumnal barometer bazooka botanist brazen buzzard cashier celestial cheapskate clothe decimate desolate diadem didactic dilute drivel duress echoed edifice enchilada flotsam forage fruition gaggle grimace haggard hooligan humane immortal irate juvenile language lantern lethal librarian loveliness manifesto mellow missile momentum murmur nasal nemesis opposition orator orphan palaver peerless peninsula propagate protagonist refraction ruminate rustic sanitary shackle sightseer stipend strident tariff terrace vindicate zenith

Challenge Words

aberration abruptly acclimatization adjacent alchemy allegiance ambivalent amicable anecdote anomaly appalling apparatus architecture assimilate atrophy audacious auxiliary ballistic balminess barricade benevolence beret bicentennial biscuit bouquet bravura brevity calypso caramelize carcinogen caterpillar caustic cavernous cessation chaotic chasm chivalry circumstantial clique coagulate coincidental collateral commendable competency concentric condemn contiguous copious corporeal correspond courier crescendo crotchety cuckoo curriculum cyclical daffodils debacle deciduous deficiency delinquent demeanor derogatory disappointed disguise dissuade doleful dreidel duplicity eclectic egalitarian elixir emigrant engrossed ensemble epitaphs epitomize equivalent esoteric exemplary exoskeleton facilitator falsetto fascism fervent fiery flamboyantly flammable forfeit fortuitous frivolous fuselage gargantuan genocide gesticulate giraffe glimpse gorilla grandeur guardian habitual harassed hazardous Herculean hesitant hideous hoax hundredth hybrid hysteria illegible immutable impoverish incinerate indigenous influenza insurrection interrupt intricate itinerary jaunty jealousy jovial jubilant juxtapose kerplunk knapsack knowledge labyrinth laurel legislature lightning limerick literate lodging luminous luxurious maestro maintenance malediction managerial marionette massacre maverick mercenary metaphor miniature mischief monstrous mosque myriads nausea nebulous neutralize nomenclature nostalgia obedient obstacle obvious octave omission osmosis oxymoron palpable parable parallel parasitic pathos perpetual phenomenon physically pinnacle pious plagiarize plethora poisonous pollutant portentous possessed precedent preliminary privilege prodigal proximity pulmonary punctual quadrangle quotient raiment rampant ravenous reconcile rehearsal repetitious reversible righteous ruefully satirical scepter schemer scrawny seizure sequester sewage shriek skewer sociable sonorous spaghetti spectral stagnant stalwart stupefy stupendous subservient suffrage sulkily superfluous superstitious sustenance taciturn tangible tantamount tenacious tenuous threshold topography trafficking transmogrify tremulous tsunami turbulence ultimatum unanimous unintelligible unprecedented utterance vandalize venerable vengeance veracity versatile viciously volition vulture wearisome whirlwind wreckage writhe

Difficult Words

abysmal acquittal aerodynamic aggregate apartheid arduous ascension baccalaureate brouhaha bureaucracy candescent capricious choreographer circuitous conscience embarrassment etiquette extraordinarily feigning fluorescent genealogy gorgeous heiress hieroglyphics idyllic impervious inertia innocuous isthmus mediocre millennium mystique neurological nuisance odyssey panache peccadillo pentathlon peripheral persevered pharaoh phoenix predecessor quarrelsome quiddity renaissance reservoir reticence rhythm sagacious sanguine scrumptious scrupulously smorgasbord sphinx squeamish succinct syncopation therapeutic tinnitus tyrannical vacuous whimsical zucchini

Here are the Science words that may be used in the Spelling Bee:

G7 Science Words for Spelling Bee Competition
Function: //noun// Etymology: Middle English //matere,// from Anglo-French, from Latin //materia// matter, physical substance, from //mater// Date: 13th century Function: //noun// Etymology: Middle English //masse,// from Anglo-French, from Latin //massa////,// from Greek //maza;// akin to Greek //massein// to knead — more at [|**mingle**] Date: 15th century Pronunciation: \ ˈ a-təm\ Function: //noun// Etymology: Middle English, from Latin //atomus,// from Greek //atomos,// from //atomos// indivisible, from //a-// + //temnein// to cut Date: 15th century Pronunciation: \ ˈ mä-li- ˌ kyül\ Function: //noun// Etymology: French //molécule,// from New Latin //molecula,// diminutive of Latin //moles// mass Date: 1794 ** 2 ** ** : ** a tiny bit ** : ** [|**particle**] Function: //noun// Etymology: Middle English //hete,// from Old English //hæ// ̄  // te, hæ //  ̄  // tu; // akin to Old English //hāt// hot Date: before 12th century Pronunciation: \  ˈ   miks-chər\ Function: //noun// Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin //mixtura,// from //mixtus// Date: 15th century ** 2 ** ** : ** a product of mixing ** : ** [|**combination**]: as ** a ** ** : ** a portion of matter consisting of two or more components in varying proportions that retain their own properties ** b ** ** : ** a fabric woven of variously colored threads ** c ** ** : ** a combination of several different kinds Main Entry: ** sub·stance ** Pronunciation: \  ˈ   səb-stən(t)s\ Function: //noun// Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin //substantia,// from //substant-, substans,// present participle of //substare// to stand under, from //sub-// + //stare// to stand — more at [|**stand**] Date: 14th century ** 3 a ** ** : ** physical material from which something is made or which has discrete existence ** b ** ** : ** matter of particular or definite chemical constitution
 * Matter ** : Pronunciation: \  ˈ   ma-tər\ ** EASY **
 * 2 a ** ** : ** the substance of which a physical object is composed ** b ** ** : ** material substance that occupies space, has mass, and is composed predominantly of atoms
 * Mass ** ** EASY **
 * 1 a ** ** : ** a quantity or aggregate of matter usually of considerable size ** b ** (1) ** : ** [|**expanse**], [|**bulk**] (2)
 * Atom ** ** EASY **
 * 1 ** ** : ** one of the minute indivisible particles of which according to ancient materialism the universe is composed
 * Molecule ** ** EASY **
 * 1 ** ** : ** the smallest particle of a substance that retains all the properties of the substance and is composed of one or more atoms
 * Heat ** ** EASY **
 * 1 a ** (1) ** : ** a condition of being hot ** : ** [|**warmth**] (2)  ** : ** a marked or notable degree of hotness ** b ** ** : ** pathological excessive bodily temperature ** c ** ** : ** a hot place or situation
 * Mixture ** ** EASY **
 * 1 a ** ** : ** the act, the process, or an instance of mixing ** b ** (1) ** : ** the state of being mixed (2)  ** : ** the relative proportions of constituents; //especially// ** : ** the proportion of fuel to air produced in a carburetor
 * Substance ** ** EASY **
 * 1 a ** ** : ** essential nature ** : ** [|**essence**] ** b ** ** : ** a fundamental or characteristic part or quality

Pronunciation: \  ˈ   melt\ Function: //verb// Etymology: Middle English, from Old English //meltan;// akin to Old Norse //melta// to digest, Greek //meldein// to melt — more at [|**mollify**] Date: before 12th century // intransitive verb // ** 1 ** ** : ** to become altered from a solid to a liquid state usually by heat
 * Melt ** ** EASY **

** Boil ** ** EASY ** Pronunciation: \  ˈ   b   ȯ   i(-ə)l\ Function: //verb// Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French //buillir, boillir,// from Latin //bullire// to bubble, from //bulla// bubble Date: 13th century // intransitive verb // ** 1 a ** ** : ** to come to the boiling point ** b ** ** : ** to generate bubbles of vapor when heated —used of a liquid ** c ** ** : ** to cook in boiling water Pronunciation: \  ˈ   frēz\ Function: //verb// Inflected Form(s): ** froze ** \   ˈ   frōz\  ; ** fro·zen **  \   ˈ   frō-zən\  ; ** freez·ing ** Etymology: Middle English //fresen,// from Old English //frēosan;// akin to Old High German //friosan// to freeze, Latin //pruina// hoarfrost, Old English //frost// frost Date: before 12th century // intransitive verb // ** 1 a ** ** : ** to become congealed into ice by cold ** b ** ** : ** to solidify as a result of abstraction of heat ** c ** ** : ** to withstand freezing  Pronunciation: \  ˈ   väl-yəm, -(   ˌ   )yüm\ Function: //noun// Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin //volumen// roll, scroll, from //volvere// to roll Date: 14th century
 * Freeze ** ** EASY **
 * Volume ** ** EASY **
 * 3 ** ** : ** the amount of space occupied by a three-dimensional object as measured in cubic units (as quarts or liters) ** : ** cubic capacity — see [|**metric system table**], [|**weight**]

Pronunciation: \  ˈ   wāt\ Function: //noun// Etymology: Middle English //wight, weght,// from Old English //wiht;// akin to Old Norse //vætt// weight, Old English //wegan// to weigh Date: before 12th century Pronunciation: \ ˈ käm- ˌ pa u̇ nd\ Function: //noun// Date: 1530
 * Weight ** ** MEDIUM **
 * 1 a ** ** : ** the amount that a thing weighs ** b ** (1) ** : ** the standard or established amount that a thing should weigh (2)  ** : ** one of the classes into which contestants in a sports event are divided according to body weight (3)  ** : ** poundage required to be carried by a horse in a handicap race
 * Compound ** ** MEDIUM **
 * 2 ** ** : ** something formed by a union of elements or parts; //especially// ** : ** a distinct substance formed by chemical union of two or more ingredients in definite proportion by weight

Spelled Pronunciation [i-vap-uh-rey-shuhn] Show IPA –noun 1. the act or process of evaporating. 2. the state of being evaporated. 3. Archaic. matter or the quantity of matter evaporated or passed off in vapor. Origin: 1350–1400; ME evaporacioun < L ēvapōrātiōn- (s. of ēvapōrātiō). See evaporate, -ion
 * Evaporation ** ** MEDIUM **

Pronunciation: \  ˌ   kän-   ˌ   den-   ˈ   sā-shən, -dən-\ Function: //noun// Date: 1594
 * Condensation ** ** MEDIUM **
 * 1 ** ** : ** ** b ** ** : ** the conversion of a substance (as water) from the vapor state to a denser liquid or solid state usually initiated by a reduction in temperature of the vapor

[ok-si-juhn] –noun Chemistry. a colorless, odorless, gaseous element constituting about one-fifth of the volume of the atmosphere and present in a combined state in nature. It is the supporter of combustion in air and was the standard of atomic, combining, and molecular weights until 1961, when carbon 12 became the new standard. Symbol: O; atomic weight: 15.9994; atomic number: 8; density: 1.4290 g/l at 0°C and 760 mm pressure.
 * Oxygen ** ** MEDIUM **

Origin: 1780–90; < F oxygène, equiv. to oxy- oxy- 1 + -gène -gen [hahy-druh-juhn] –noun a colorless, odorless, flammable gas that combines chemically with oxygen to form water: the lightest of the known elements. Symbol: H; atomic weight: 1.00797; atomic number: 1; density: 0.0899 g/l at 0°C and 760 mm pressure.
 * Hydrogen ** ** MEDIUM **

Origin: 1785–95; < F hydrogène. See hydro- 1, -gen –noun a colorless, odorless, incombustible gas, CO2, present in the atmosphere and formed during respiration, usually obtained from coal, coke, or natural gas by combustion, from carbohydrates by fermentation, by reaction of acid with limestone or other carbonates, or naturally from springs: used extensively in industry as dry ice, or carbon dioxide snow, in carbonated beverages, fire extinguishers, etc.
 * Carbon dioxide ** ** MEDIUM **

Also called carbonic-acid gas, carbonic anhydride.

Origin: 1870–75 –noun 5. Chemistry. the crystals, deposit, or material obtained when a substance is sublimated. 2. Chemistry. a. to sublime (a solid substance); extract by this process. b. to refine or purify (a substance).
 * Sublimation ** ** MEDIUM **
 * Mitosis ** [ mahy-   toh   -sis  ] ** MEDIUM **

–noun Cell Biology. the usual method of cell division, characterized typically by the resolving of the chromatin of the nucleus into a threadlike form, which condenses into chromosomes, each of which separates longitudinally into two parts, one part of each chromosome being retained in each of two new cells resulting from the original cell. Origin: 1885–90; < Gk mít(os) a thread + -osis

Spelled Pronunciation [sahy-tuh-plaz-uhm] Show IPA –noun Cell Biology. the cell substance between the cell membrane and the nucleus, containing the cytosol, organelles, cytoskeleton, and various particles. Origin: 1870–75; cyto- + -plasm
 * Cytoplasm ** ** MEDIUM **

–noun Cell Biology. a specialized part of a cell having some specific function; a cell organ.
 * Organelle **** DIFFICULT **

Origin: 1905–10; < NL organella, dim. of L organum organ; see -elle Spelled Pronunciation [sahy-toh-ki-nee-sis, -kahy-] –noun Cell Biology. the division of the cell cytoplasm that usually follows mitotic or meiotic division of the nucleus. Origin: 1915–20; cyto- + -kinesis
 * Cytokinesis **** DIFFICULT **
 * Interphase **** DIFFICULT **

Pronunciation //[in-ter-feyz]// –noun Cell Biology. the period of the cell cycle during which the nucleus is not undergoing division, typically occurring between mitotic or meiotic divisions.

Origin: 1920–25; inter- + phase Dictionary.com Unabridged


 * Chromatids ** ** DIFFICULT **

chro ⋅ ma ⋅ tid  /ˈkro ʊ mət ɪ d/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [kroh-muh-tid] –noun Genetics. one of two identical chromosomal strands into which a chromosome splits longitudinally preparatory to cell division.

Origin: 1895–1900; chromat- + -id 3

chro ⋅ mo ⋅ some  /ˈkro ʊ məˌso ʊ m/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [kroh-muh-sohm] –noun Genetics. any of several threadlike bodies, consisting of chromatin, that carry the genes in a linear order: the human species has 23 pairs, designated 1 to 22 in order of decreasing size and X and Y for the female and male sex chromosomes respectively. Origin: 1885–90; chromo- + -some
 * Chromosomes ** ** DIFFICULT **


 * Wavelength ** ** DIFFICULT **

[weyv-lengkth, -length, -lenth] –noun 1. Physics. the distance, measured in the direction of propagation of a wave, between two successive points in the wave that are characterized by the same phase of oscillation.

Origin: 1855–60; wave + length Dictionary.com Unabridged

[ek-oh-loh-key-shuhn]
 * Echolocation **** DIFFICULT **

–noun 1. the general method of locating objects by determining the time for an echo to return and the direction from which it returns, as by radar or sonar.

Origin: 1944; echo + location

[dahy-uh-ree-uh] –noun Pathology. an intestinal disorder characterized by abnormal frequency and fluidity of fecal evacuations.
 * Diarrhea ** ** DIFFICULT **

Origin: 1350–1400; ME diaria < LL diarrhoea < Gk diárrhoia a flowing through, equiv. to diarrho- (var. s. of diarrheîn to flow through) + -ia -ia [ri-frak-shuhn] –noun 1. Physics. the change of direction of a ray of light, sound, heat, or the like, in passing obliquely from one medium into another in which its wave velocity is different.
 * Refraction **** DIFFICULT **

Origin: 1570–80; < LL refrāctiōn- (s. of refrāctiō). See refract, -ion [di-frak-shuhn] –noun Physics. 1. the phenomenon exhibited by wave fronts that, passing the edge of an opaque body, are modulated, thereby causing a redistribution of energy within the front: it is detectable in light waves by the presence of a pattern of closely spaced dark and light bands (diffraction pattern) at the edge of a shadow. 1665–75;
 * Diffraction **** DIFFICULT **
 * Origin: **

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