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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 "telescope" mean? (tele = far, scope = look) (a phone for calling far away / a tool for writing / a type of map / an instrument for seeing far away) → an instrument for seeing far awayPrompt: Put the meanings of the parts together.
  3. What does this root mean? scrib / script (as in scribble, manuscript) (break / see / write / carry) → writePrompt: 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 "auto" mean? (as in automatic, autonomy, autopilot) (write or draw / self / life / measure) → selfPrompt: What do the example words have in common?
  2. Which word contains a Greek root that means "measure"? (thermos / symmetry / automatic / stethoscope) → symmetryPrompt: Split each word into parts. Which part could mean "measure"?

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. Which word contains a Greek root that means "light"? (saxophone / chronic / photon / teleport) → photonPrompt: Split each word into parts. Which part could mean "light"?
  2. These words share a Greek root that means "life". Type it. symbiosis, biodegradable, biome → bioPrompt: 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

    Which word contains a Greek root that means "look at, examine"?

    • A. phonics
    • B. photon
    • C. periscope
    • D. geode

  2. Question 2

    These words share a Greek root that means "small". Type it. microorganism, microwave, microchip

    Answer

  3. Question 3

    What does the Greek root "micro" mean? (as in microchip, microorganism, microwave)

    • A. small
    • B. time
    • C. far
    • D. measure

  4. Question 4

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

    • A. hydroelectric
    • B. geocache
    • C. symphony
    • D. perimeter

  5. Question 5

    These words share a Greek root that means "sound". Type it. symphony, phonics, megaphone

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    What does the Greek root "photo" mean? (as in photocopy, photon, photosynthesis)

    • A. light
    • B. time
    • C. self
    • D. water

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

  1. 1. C. periscope

  2. 2. micro

  3. 3. A. small

  4. 4. B. geocache

  5. 5. phon

  6. 6. A. light