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    Get to the Root

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    Subject: ELA (English Language Arts), ESL/ELL (English Language Learning)

    Lesson Length: 30 - 45 mins

    Topic: Greek and Latin Roots

    Grade Level: 6, 7, 8

    Standards / Framework:

    Brief Description: This lesson provides students with the opportunity to practice using Greek and Latin roots to help figure out the meaning of words they’re not familiar with.

    Know Before You Start: Provide students with a list of common Greek and Latin roots to use as a reference.

    Hook:

    • Read and discuss the sample comic. 
    • Display the words biography and biology on the board. Read the words together and have students discuss the meaning of these two words. 
    • Circle bio and remind students that the word bio is from Greek origin and means life. Biography is the story of someone’s life. Biology is the study of life. 
    • Are there any other words you can think of that have the Greek root bio in them?

    Activity:

    • Assign students a Greek or Latin root, e.g., morph, aud, dict, astir. 
    • Have students identify two words that have their root. 
    • Using the sample comic as a guide, have students create a comic that uses two words with their assigned root, and explains the meaning of the root word.
    • Use this opportunity to connect Greek and Latin roots in English to their home language if applicable, e.g., both English and Spanish use the Greek word aud; which means hear; auditorium = auditorio.

    Closure:

    • Have students share their comics with the whole class or in small groups.
    • Display the comics in the classroom as a reference.

    Differentiation:

    • Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
    • Allow students to work in pairs or groups as needed.
    • Provide two sample words as needed. 
    • Allow students to use a dictionary as a resource.
    • Adapt this lesson as needed to meet your students’ language levels.
    • Allow students to use the voiceover feature to read their comics aloud.

    Resources:

    • Comic to print or display

    Suggested Content Packs:

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