What the Teacher Needs to Know about Greek and Latin Roots (Description – pp. 181-184, Word Lists – pp. 284-297) Many words in the English language have come from Greek or Latin roots. The same root is found in a variety of words, and if students know the meaning of the root, they are often able to determine the meaning of a newly found word. Many of these words are found in content areas, so students who have an understanding of the roots, their meanings, and how they work have an advantage in their content classes. Start by examining number related prefixes. Their meanings are often obvious, and students have had experience working with many of the words that include these prefixes. Examine two or three prefixes at a time, then have students contribute additional examples of words containing these prefixes. Students can create word webs to show the many different words that can be formed from a single prefix. See Word Journeys p. 182 for an example of such a web. Then move to studying roots, starting with Greek roots first. Their meanings are usually more obvious for students than the Latin roots. Several sorts with Greek and Latin roots are included; however, additional work with these words can be done by creating sorts involving some of the other roots. See pp. 284-297 of Word Journeys for an extensive list of words which have come to us from Greek and Latin roots. In addition pp. 183-184 of Word Journeys describes two activities students might do with these words – Create-aWord and word family trees.

Greek and Latin Roots Sort 1b

monastery

biennial

triangle

tricuspid

triennial

bimonthly

bipolar

monograph

monomania

monosyllabic

biweekly

trilobite

triplet

bilateral

monotonous

monastery triennial monomania triplet

biennial bimonthly monosyllabic bilateral

triangle bipolar biweekly monotonous

tricuspid monograph trilobite

Greek and Latin Roots Sort 1b

mono monastery monograph monomania monosyllabic monotonous

bi biennial bimonthly bipolar biweekly bilateral

Transfer Words: monarchy, bilingual, tripod

tri triangle tricuspid triennial trilobite triplet

Greek and Latin Roots Sort 2b

pentagon

octahedron

polydactyl

decagon

semiautomatic

semitropical

semiconscious

decade

polygraph

polyps

pentatonic

octogenarian

octillion

semiprecious

pentathlon

pentagon polyps polygraph octogenarian

semiconscious semitropical semiautomatic semiprecious

polydactyl octahedron pentatonic pentathlon

decagon decade octillion

Greek and Latin Roots Sort 2b penta pentagon pentatonic pentathlon

octa octahedron octogenarian octillion

deca decagon decade

semi semiautomatic semiconscious semiprecious semitropical

poly polydactyl polygraph polyps

Transfer Words: pentameter, octave, polysyllabic, decahedron, semicircle

Greek and Latin Roots Sort 3b

unicorn

quadrant

multicultural multifamily

centenarian multimillionaire

centimeter

quadrille

unify

unique

unite

square

percent

multiplex

universe

unicorn multifamily unify percent

quadrant centimeter unique multiplex

centenarian quadrille unite universe

multicultural multimillionaire square

Greek and Latin Roots Sort 3b

uni unicorn unify unique unite universe

quad quadrant quadrille square

cent centenarian centimeter percent

multi multicultural multifamily multimillionaire multiplex

Transfer Words: unicycle, quadriceps, centipede, multiplication

Greek and Latin Roots Sort 4b

cycle

automatic

anticlimactic

topography

seismograph

photograph

antihistamine

antithesis

autonomy

cyclometer

motorcycle

paragraph

antitrust

homograph

unicycle

cycle seismograph autonomy antitrust

automatic photograph cyclometer homograph

anticlimactic topography antihistamine antithesis motorcycle paragraph unicycle

Greek and Latin Roots Sort 4b cycl cycle cyclometer motorcycle unicycle

auto automatic autonomy

anti anticlimactic antihistamine antithesis antitrust

graph topography seismograph photograph paragraph homograph

Transfer Words: cyclone, automaton, antitoxin, graphite

Greek and Latin Roots Sort 5b

audience

credentials

auspicious

benediction

dictate

despicable

perspective

discredit

audition

retrospect

inaudible

spectator

edict

predicate

verdict

audience dictate audition edict

credentials despicable retrospect predicate

auspicious perspective inaudible verdict

benediction discredit spectator

Greek and Latin Roots Sort 5b aud audience audition inaudible

cred credentials discredit

spect auspicious despicable perspective retrospect spectator

dic benediction dictate edict predicate verdict

Transfer Words: auditorium, credible, inspector, vindicate

Greek and Latin Roots Sort 6b

conference

commission

aqueduct

ferry

prefer

emission

missile

omission

conductor

educate

product

transfer

conifer

submission

semiconductor

conference prefer conductor conifer

commission emission educate submission

aqueduct ferry missile omission product transfer semiconductor

Greek and Latin Roots Sort 6b fer conference ferry prefer transfer conifer

miss/mit commission emission missile omission submission

Transfer Words: fertile, intermission, reduce

duce/duct aqueduct conductor educate product semiconductor