Back to the lesson plan builder
Lesson length30 min45 min60 min
Questions🔀 New questions

Print the plan for yourself; the student sheet prints on its own page after it.

English lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 30 minutes

Etymology and advanced roots

Vocabulary

CCSS L.9-10.4.BCCSS L.11-12.4.BEngland: GCSE English LanguageEngland: A-level English Language

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Etymology and advanced 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: Greek and Latin roots

Leads to: Advanced diction and nuance

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 (Greek and Latin roots). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What does this root mean? geo (as in geography, geology) (life / star / sound / earth) → earthPrompt: Think about what the example words have in common.
  2. Use the word parts to work out the meaning. What does "biography" mean? (bio = life, graph = write) (a drawing of animals / a list of dates / a written account of someone's life / the study of plants) → a written account of someone's lifePrompt: Put the meanings of the parts together.
  3. What does this root mean? phon (as in phone, symphony) (life / light / sound / earth) → soundPrompt: Think about what the example words have in common.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
  • Share the objective: Etymology and advanced 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: Use the word parts to choose the best definition. circumnavigate (circum = around, nav = ship)
  • Step 1: Etymology (word origins) helps you decode sophisticated vocabulary.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: sail all the way around
  • Answer: sail all the way around
  • 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. Use the word parts to choose the best definition. eloquent (e = out, loqu = speak) (quietly polite / fluent and persuasive in speech / unable to speak / very loud) → fluent and persuasive in speechPrompt: Combine the meanings of the parts shown in brackets.
  2. Use the word parts to choose the best definition. benevolent (bene = good, vol = wish) (kind and wishing others well / lucky / very wealthy / violent and cruel) → kind and wishing others wellPrompt: Combine the meanings of the parts shown in brackets.

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 choose the best definition. chronic (chron = time) (very painful / about history / lasting a long time / sudden and short) → lasting a long timePrompt: Combine the meanings of the parts shown in brackets.
  2. Use the word parts to choose the best definition. malicious (mal = bad) (sick / intending to harm / forgetful / very tired) → intending to harmPrompt: Combine the meanings of the parts shown in brackets.

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: Greek and Latin roots.
  • 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: Advanced diction and nuance.
  • 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-10.

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

eurekami

Etymology and advanced roots

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Use the word parts to choose the best definition. incredulous (in = not, cred = believe)

    • A. trustworthy
    • B. very sincere
    • C. unwilling to believe
    • D. amazing

  2. Question 2

    Use the word parts to choose the best definition. amorphous (a = without, morph = shape)

    • A. very loving
    • B. changing shade
    • C. very large
    • D. without a clear shape

  3. Question 3

    Use the word parts to choose the best definition. eloquent (e = out, loqu = speak)

    • A. very loud
    • B. quietly polite
    • C. unable to speak
    • D. fluent and persuasive in speech

  4. Question 4

    Use the word parts to choose the best definition. malicious (mal = bad)

    • A. intending to harm
    • B. forgetful
    • C. sick
    • D. very tired

  5. Question 5

    Use the word parts to choose the best definition. philanthropist (phil = love, anthrop = human)

    • A. a collector of stamps
    • B. someone who hates people
    • C. someone who helps others, often by giving money
    • D. someone who studies humans

  6. Question 6

    Use the word parts to choose the best definition. chronic (chron = time)

    • A. about history
    • B. sudden and short
    • C. very painful
    • D. lasting a long time

Free from eurekami.com

for the adult only

Answer key: Etymology and advanced roots

  1. 1. C. unwilling to believe

  2. 2. D. without a clear shape

  3. 3. D. fluent and persuasive in speech

  4. 4. A. intending to harm

  5. 5. C. someone who helps others, often by giving money

  6. 6. D. lasting a long time