English lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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.
- Which prefix makes a real word from "regular", meaning "not" or "wrongly"? (unregular / irregular / inregular / disregular) → irregularPrompt: un-, dis-, mis-, in-, im-, il- and ir- can all mean 'not'.
- What does this prefix mean? mis- (as in mislead, misplace) (again / under / wrongly / before) → wronglyPrompt: Look at the example words. What do they have in common?
- What does this suffix mean? -ology (as in biology, geology) (full of / the study of / fear of / small) → the study ofPrompt: Look at the example words.
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 and Latin roots. 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 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 · 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.
- What does this root mean? graph (as in autograph, photograph) (sound / write or draw / light / far) → write or drawPrompt: Think about what the example words have in common.
- Use the word parts to work out the meaning. What does "thermometer" mean? (therm = heat, meter = measure) (a heater / a weather map / a tool that measures heat / a tool that measures length) → a tool that measures heatPrompt: Put the meanings of the parts together.
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.
- Use the word parts to work out the meaning. What does "microscope" mean? (micro = small, scope = look) (a small phone / a measuring tape / an instrument for looking at tiny things / a tiny map) → an instrument for looking at tiny thingsPrompt: Put the meanings of the parts together.
- What does this root mean? aud (as in audio, audience) (see / hear / walk / write) → hearPrompt: 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