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English lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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? dict (as in dictate, predict) (carry / see / pull / say) → sayPrompt: Think about what the example words have in common.
  2. Use the word parts to work out the meaning. What does "thermometer" mean? (therm = heat, meter = measure) (a tool that measures length / a heater / a tool that measures heat / a weather map) → a tool that measures heatPrompt: Put the meanings of the parts together.
  3. What does this root mean? scrib / script (as in scribble, manuscript) (write / see / break / carry) → writePrompt: Think about what the example words have in common.

Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 12 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 "geo" mean? (as in geocache, geode, geophysics) (look at, examine / earth / light / time) → earthPrompt: What do the example words have in common?
  2. Which word contains a Greek root that means "time"? (anachronism / geode / phonics / autopilot) → anachronismPrompt: Split each word into parts. Which part could mean "time"?

You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 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 "auto" mean? (as in autopilot, automatic, autocorrect) (measure / self / earth / small) → selfPrompt: What do the example words have in common?
  2. These words share a Greek root that means "write or draw". Type it. graphic, paragraph, graphite → graphPrompt: 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/ 8

  1. Question 1

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

    • A. far
    • B. write or draw
    • C. measure
    • D. light

  2. Question 2

    These words share a Greek root that means "self". Type it. autopilot, autonomy, autocorrect

    Answer

  3. Question 3

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

    • A. graphic
    • B. teleport
    • C. hypothermia
    • D. microorganism

  4. Question 4

    What does the Greek root "geo" mean? (as in geode, geocentric, geocache)

    • A. write or draw
    • B. sound
    • C. earth
    • D. time

  5. Question 5

    These words share a Greek root that means "heat". Type it. hypothermia, thermostat, thermal

    Answer

  6. Question 6

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

    • A. photon
    • B. microorganism
    • C. kaleidoscope
    • D. symphony

  7. Question 7

    What does the Greek root "hydr" mean? (as in hydroelectric, dehydrated, hydrant)

    • A. water
    • B. look at, examine
    • C. heat
    • D. far

  8. Question 8

    These words share a Greek root that means "write or draw". Type it. graphic, graphite, calligraphy

    Answer

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

  1. 1. D. light

  2. 2. auto

  3. 3. C. hypothermia

  4. 4. C. earth

  5. 5. therm

  6. 6. C. kaleidoscope

  7. 7. A. water

  8. 8. graph