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English lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 30 minutes

Greek and Latin roots

Vocabulary

CCSS L.4.4.BCCSS L.5.4.BCCSS L.6.4.BEngland: Y5/6 Vocabulary (word origins)England: 11+ English

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Greek and Latin roots.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Prefixes and suffixes

Leads to: Etymology and advanced roots; Latin roots: port, dict, rupt, spect and more; Greek roots: bio, geo, graph, phon and more

Materials: Word cards, A thesaurus or dictionary, A short text with the target words, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Prefixes and suffixes). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which prefix makes a real word from "behave", meaning "not" or "wrongly"? (unbehave / inbehave / disbehave / misbehave) → misbehavePrompt: un-, dis-, mis-, in-, im-, il- and ir- can all mean 'not'.
  2. What does this prefix mean? anti- (as in antiseptic, anticlockwise) (with / against / before / together) → againstPrompt: Look at the example words. What do they have in common?
  3. What does this suffix mean? -ment (as in enjoyment, movement) (a place / able to be / the act or result of / without) → the act or result ofPrompt: Look at the example words.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
  • Share the objective: Greek and Latin roots. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: What does this root mean? phon (as in phone, symphony)
  • Step 1: Many English words are built from Greek and Latin roots. Knowing a root helps you unlock many words.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: sound
  • Answer: sound
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. What does this root mean? dict (as in dictate, predict) (pull / say / carry / see) → sayPrompt: Think about what the example words have in common.
  2. Use the word parts to work out the meaning. What does "microscope" mean? (micro = small, scope = look) (a measuring tape / an instrument for looking at tiny things / a tiny map / a small phone) → an instrument for looking at tiny thingsPrompt: Put the meanings of the parts together.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Use the word parts to work out the meaning. What does "microscope" mean? (micro = small, scope = look) (a tiny map / a small phone / a measuring tape / an instrument for looking at tiny things) → an instrument for looking at tiny thingsPrompt: Put the meanings of the parts together.
  2. What does this root mean? spect (as in spectator, inspect) (look / build / carry / speak) → lookPrompt: Think about what the example words have in common.

Watch out for

  • Picking a "bigger" synonym that doesn't fit the meaning.
  • Ignoring the clues in the rest of the sentence.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Prefixes and suffixes.
  • Use concrete materials: word cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Etymology and advanced roots; Latin roots: port, dict, rupt, spect and more; Greek roots: bio, geo, graph, phon and more.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-5.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Greek and Latin roots

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Use the word parts to work out the meaning. What does "submarine" mean? (sub = under, marine = sea)

    • A. a sea animal
    • B. a beach
    • C. a vessel that goes under the sea
    • D. a sailor

  2. Question 2

    What does this root mean? ject (as in eject, project)

    • A. speak
    • B. look
    • C. throw
    • D. build

  3. Question 3

    Use the word parts to work out the meaning. What does "microscope" mean? (micro = small, scope = look)

    • A. an instrument for looking at tiny things
    • B. a tiny map
    • C. a small phone
    • D. a measuring tape

  4. Question 4

    What does this root mean? phon (as in phone, symphony)

    • A. life
    • B. light
    • C. earth
    • D. sound

  5. Question 5

    Use the word parts to work out the meaning. What does "biography" mean? (bio = life, graph = write)

    • A. a written account of someone's life
    • B. a drawing of animals
    • C. the study of plants
    • D. a list of dates

  6. Question 6

    What does this root mean? aqua (as in aquarium, aquatic)

    • A. earth
    • B. fire
    • C. water
    • D. air

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Answer key: Greek and Latin roots

  1. 1. C. a vessel that goes under the sea

  2. 2. C. throw

  3. 3. A. an instrument for looking at tiny things

  4. 4. D. sound

  5. 5. A. a written account of someone's life

  6. 6. C. water