• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Latin roots: bene, mal, cred, sequ, vert and more; Greek roots: path, phil, phob, psych, poly and more). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. What does the Latin root "fac / fect" mean? (as in manufacture, factory, perfect) (make, do / come / good, well / turn) → make, doPrompt: What do the example words have in common?
2. What does the Greek root "astr / aster" mean? (as in astronomy, asterisk, astronaut) (star / shape, form / human / many) → starPrompt: What do the example words have in common?
3. Which word contains a Latin root that means "take, seize"? (malnourished / credible / accept / sequel) → acceptPrompt: Split each word into parts. Which part could mean "take, seize"?

• Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
• Share the objective: Using roots to work out a whole word's meaning. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Use the roots you know to choose the most likely meaning of the word. incredulous
• Step 1: Combine the meanings of the parts to define a word, then check it makes sense.
• Step 2: in = not + cred = believe + ulous = tending to.
• Step 3: So the answer is: unwilling or unable to believe something
• Answer: unwilling or unable to believe something
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• 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 roots you know to choose the most likely meaning of the word. amorphous (without a clear shape / brightly coloured / very old / full of love) → without a clear shapePrompt: Split the word into prefix, root and suffix.
2. Which word has this meaning? fear of small, enclosed spaces (incredulous / malnourished / polyglot / claustrophobia) → claustrophobiaPrompt: Which root or prefix matches part of the meaning?

• 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.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Which word has this meaning? the ability to share someone else's feelings (empathy / convert / advocate / psychology) → empathyPrompt: Which root or prefix matches part of the meaning?
2. Use the roots you know to choose the most likely meaning of the word. empathy (a fear of people / a love of books / a lack of energy / the ability to share someone else's feelings) → the ability to share someone else's feelingsPrompt: Split the word into prefix, root and suffix.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-7.