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English lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 45 minutes

Greek and Latin roots

Vocabulary

CCSS L.4.4.BCCSS L.5.4.BCCSS L.6.4.BEngland: Y5/6 Vocabulary (word origins)England: 11+ English

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Greek and Latin 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: Prefixes and suffixes

Leads to: Etymology and advanced roots; Latin roots: port, dict, rupt, spect and more; Greek roots: bio, geo, graph, phon 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 · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Prefixes and suffixes). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which prefix makes a real word from "responsible", meaning "not" or "wrongly"? (irresponsible / unresponsible / inresponsible / disresponsible) → irresponsiblePrompt: un-, dis-, mis-, in-, im-, il- and ir- can all mean 'not'.
  2. What does this prefix mean? inter- (as in international, interact) (between / against / inside / after) → betweenPrompt: Look at the example words. What do they have in common?
  3. What does this suffix mean? -able (as in washable, readable) (able to be / before / a person who / without) → able to bePrompt: Look at the example words.

Hook · 5 min

  • Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
  • Share the objective: Greek and Latin roots. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: What does this root mean? phon (as in phone, symphony)
  • Step 1: Many English words are built from Greek and Latin roots. Knowing a root helps you unlock many words.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: sound
  • Answer: sound
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 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 this root mean? ject (as in eject, project) (throw / build / look / speak) → throwPrompt: 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 tiny map / a measuring tape / an instrument for looking at tiny things / a small phone) → an instrument for looking at tiny thingsPrompt: Put the meanings of the parts together.

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 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 work out the meaning. What does "inaudible" mean? (in = not, aud = hear, ible = able to be) (very loud / able to speak / not able to be heard / easy to see) → not able to be heardPrompt: Put the meanings of the parts together.
  2. What does this root mean? chron (as in chronological, chronicle) (life / sound / time / shade) → timePrompt: Think about what the example words have in common.

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: Prefixes and suffixes.
  • 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: Etymology and advanced roots; Latin roots: port, dict, rupt, spect and more; Greek roots: bio, geo, graph, phon 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-5.

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

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Greek and Latin roots

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    What does this root mean? port (as in transport, portable, export)

    • A. write
    • B. see
    • C. carry
    • D. hear

  2. Question 2

    Use the word parts to work out the meaning. What does "microscope" mean? (micro = small, scope = look)

    • A. an instrument for looking at tiny things
    • B. a tiny map
    • C. a small phone
    • D. a measuring tape

  3. Question 3

    What does this root mean? rupt (as in erupt, interrupt)

    • A. write
    • B. break
    • C. throw
    • D. build

  4. Question 4

    What does this root mean? photo (as in photograph, photosynthesis)

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

  5. Question 5

    Use the word parts to work out the meaning. What does "inaudible" mean? (in = not, aud = hear, ible = able to be)

    • A. easy to see
    • B. not able to be heard
    • C. able to speak
    • D. very loud

  6. Question 6

    What does this root mean? aqua (as in aquarium, aquatic)

    • A. earth
    • B. air
    • C. fire
    • D. water

  7. Question 7

    Use the word parts to work out the meaning. What does "interrupt" mean? (inter = between, rupt = break)

    • A. look again
    • B. break in between
    • C. build together
    • D. carry away

  8. Question 8

    What does this root mean? dict (as in dictate, predict)

    • A. carry
    • B. see
    • C. pull
    • D. say

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Answer key: Greek and Latin roots

  1. 1. C. carry

  2. 2. A. an instrument for looking at tiny things

  3. 3. B. break

  4. 4. D. light

  5. 5. B. not able to be heard

  6. 6. D. water

  7. 7. B. break in between

  8. 8. D. say