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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 "patient", meaning "not" or "wrongly"? (impatient / inpatient / unpatient / dispatient) → impatientPrompt: un-, dis-, mis-, in-, im-, il- and ir- can all mean 'not'.
  2. What does this prefix mean? super- (as in superstar, supermarket) (under / above or bigger / not / again) → above or biggerPrompt: Look at the example words. What do they have in common?
  3. What does this suffix mean? -ful (as in hopeful, playful) (again / without / full of / the study of) → full 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? rupt (as in erupt, interrupt) (write / break / build / throw) → breakPrompt: 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 / a small phone / an instrument for looking at tiny things / a tiny map) → 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. What does this root mean? photo (as in photograph, photosynthesis) (light / far / sound / water) → lightPrompt: Think about what the example words have in common.
  2. Use the word parts to work out the meaning. What does "inaudible" mean? (in = not, aud = hear, ible = able to be) (able to speak / very loud / easy to see / not able to be heard) → not able to be heardPrompt: Put the meanings of the parts together.

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

eurekami

Greek and Latin roots

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    What does this root mean? photo (as in photograph, photosynthesis)

    • A. sound
    • B. light
    • C. water
    • D. far

  2. Question 2

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

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

  3. Question 3

    What does this root mean? chron (as in chronological, chronicle)

    • A. life
    • B. time
    • C. sound
    • D. shade

  4. Question 4

    Use the word parts to work out the meaning. What does "telescope" mean? (tele = far, scope = look)

    • A. a phone for calling far away
    • B. a tool for writing
    • C. a type of map
    • D. an instrument for seeing far away

  5. Question 5

    What does this root mean? spect (as in spectator, inspect)

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

  6. Question 6

    Use the word parts to work out the meaning. What does "inaudible" mean? (in = not, aud = hear, ible = able to be)

    • A. easy to see
    • B. not able to be heard
    • C. very loud
    • D. able to speak

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Answer key: Greek and Latin roots

  1. 1. B. light

  2. 2. D. a written account of someone's life

  3. 3. B. time

  4. 4. D. an instrument for seeing far away

  5. 5. A. look

  6. 6. B. not able to be heard