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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? geo (as in geography, geology) (sound / life / star / earth) → earthPrompt: 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 tiny map / an instrument for looking at tiny things / a small phone) → an instrument for looking at tiny thingsPrompt: Put the meanings of the parts together.
  3. Use the word parts to work out the meaning. What does "interrupt" mean? (inter = between, rupt = break) (look again / break in between / build together / carry away) → break in betweenPrompt: Put the meanings of the parts together.

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 "tele" mean? (as in telepathy, teleport, television) (light / life / far / earth) → farPrompt: What do the example words have in common?
  2. Which word contains a Greek root that means "write or draw"? (graphic / hydrant / saxophone / automatic) → graphicPrompt: Split each word into parts. Which part could mean "write or draw"?

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 "photo" mean? (as in photocopy, photosynthesis, photon) (self / small / light / write or draw) → lightPrompt: What do the example words have in common?
  2. These words share a Greek root that means "water". Type it. dehydrated, hydroelectric, hydrate → hydrPrompt: 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 "self". Type it. autocorrect, autonomy, automatic

    Answer

  2. Question 2

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

    • A. microorganism
    • B. photon
    • C. autocorrect
    • D. geode

  3. Question 3

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

    • A. self
    • B. write or draw
    • C. light
    • D. look at, examine

  4. Question 4

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

    Answer

  5. Question 5

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

    • A. graphite
    • B. photosynthesis
    • C. diameter
    • D. megaphone

  6. Question 6

    What does the Greek root "phon" mean? (as in megaphone, symphony, saxophone)

    • A. self
    • B. sound
    • C. far
    • D. measure

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

  1. 1. auto

  2. 2. C. autocorrect

  3. 3. A. self

  4. 4. phon

  5. 5. B. photosynthesis

  6. 6. B. sound