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English lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 30 minutes

Greek roots: bio, geo, graph, phon and more

Vocabulary

CCSS L.6.4.BEngland: KS3 English (vocabulary and etymology)England: 11+ English

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Greek roots: bio, geo, graph, phon and more.

  • 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: Greek roots: path, phil, phob, psych, poly 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 (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? spect (as in spectator, inspect) (look / build / speak / carry) → lookPrompt: Think about what the example words have in common.
  2. Use the word parts to work out the meaning. What does "interrupt" mean? (inter = between, rupt = break) (break in between / build together / carry away / look again) → break in betweenPrompt: Put the meanings of the parts together.
  3. What does this root mean? ject (as in eject, project) (speak / throw / build / look) → throwPrompt: 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: Greek roots: bio, geo, graph, phon and more. 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 the Greek root "micro" mean? (as in microwave, microchip, microorganism)
  • Step 1: Knowing what a Greek root means helps you work out unfamiliar words that contain it.
  • Step 2: micro means "small", as in microwave, microchip, microorganism.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: small
  • Answer: small
  • 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 the Greek root "graph" mean? (as in calligraphy, graphite, paragraph) (self / time / write or draw / heat) → write or drawPrompt: What do the example words have in common?
  2. Which word contains a Greek root that means "life"? (biome / photocopy / phonics / autocorrect) → biomePrompt: Split each word into parts. Which part could mean "life"?

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 the Greek root "tele" mean? (as in television, telepathy, teleport) (far / small / earth / look at, examine) → farPrompt: What do the example words have in common?
  2. These words share a Greek root that means "sound". Type it. megaphone, symphony, saxophone → phonPrompt: Look for the letters that appear in every word.

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: Greek roots: path, phil, phob, psych, poly 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-6.

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

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Greek roots: bio, geo, graph, phon and more

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    These words share a Greek root that means "far". Type it. teleport, television, telepathy

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    Which word contains a Greek root that means "write or draw"?

    • A. phonics
    • B. paragraph
    • C. microorganism
    • D. periscope

  3. Question 3

    What does the Greek root "therm" mean? (as in thermostat, hypothermia, thermal)

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

  4. Question 4

    These words share a Greek root that means "measure". Type it. symmetry, diameter, speedometer

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    Which word contains a Greek root that means "heat"?

    • A. biome
    • B. thermos
    • C. calligraphy
    • D. automatic

  6. Question 6

    What does the Greek root "auto" mean? (as in automatic, autopilot, autonomy)

    • A. write or draw
    • B. water
    • C. far
    • D. self

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Answer key: Greek roots: bio, geo, graph, phon and more

  1. 1. tele

  2. 2. B. paragraph

  3. 3. A. heat

  4. 4. meter

  5. 5. B. thermos

  6. 6. D. self