Welcome to STEMS
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STEMS are a systematic approach to the study of vocabulary.
STEMS, also called Caesar’s English, derive from Greek and Latin words.
STEMS are words within a word that help decode the meaning.
Examples include:
STEM
DEFINITION
Examples (Spelling Words)
bi
two
bicycle, biweekly
pre
before
predict, prepare
super
over
supervise, superior
 Students are given a unit of spelling words and STEMS to review and drill
over a 2 week period. Students will be tested on: correct spelling of
words, definition of STEMS, and correct context and sentence usage.
 Students will create a Rolodex of flashcards (index cards) with the STEM
on the front and the definition and spelling words on the back.
Neatness and color coding is expected. Note diagram below:
FRONTSIDE
STEM in
BLACK color
bi
*two
~ bilingual
~ biweekly
BACKSIDE
Definition in RED color
Spelling words in BLUE
color
 Tests alternate every Thursday. Spelling Test on week 1 and STEMS Test
on week 2. STEMS tests are cumulative; therefore, students must study
ALL STEMS from previous weeks. Example: STEMS Test #1 will cover 5
STEMS and STEMS Test #5 will cover 25 STEMS. STEMS tests will also
include correct context and sentence usage of spelling words that week.
The first Spelling Test is _____________________.
The first STEMS Test is ______________________.
STEMS – Unit 1
1. bi = two
2. sub = under
3. de = down
4. pre = before
5. super = over
Spelling Words & Definitions
Unit 1
1.
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5.
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10.
bilingual – speaking two languages fluently
biweekly – happens every two weeks or twice a week
submarine – a naval ship made to operate under water
submerge – to put under or plunge into water
descend – to come or go down from a higher place or level to a lower one
deposit – 1) to place for or as if for safe keeping 2) to put money in a bank
predict – to figure out and tell beforehand
prepare – to make ready beforehand for some particular reason
supervise – to oversee
superior – 1) situated higher up 2) one that is higher in rank, importance, or quality
STEMS – Unit 2
1. un = not
2. inter = between
3. semi = half
4. dis = away
5. sym = together
Spelling Words & Definitions
Unit 2
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10.
unequal – not alike (as in size or value)
unable – not able
international – of, relating to, or affecting 2 or more nations
interact – to act upon one another
semicircle – half of a circle
semiformal – moderately formal (ex. church clothes)
dismiss – to send away
distract – to draw the mind or attention to something else
symmetry – close agreement in size or shape
symphony – 1) a large orchestra 2) a long musical composition
STEMS – Unit 3
1. circum = around
2. mal = bad
3. post = after
4. equi = equal
5. ped = foot
Spelling Words & Definitions
Unit 3
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10.
circumference – 1)the line that goes around the circle 2) the distance around something
circumnavigate – to go completely around (as the earth) especially by water
dismal – depressing, causing gloom or misery
malicious - doing mean things for pleasure; motivated by wrongful, or mischievous purposes
postscript – a note added to the end of a letter or book (P.S.)
postpone – to put off until some later time
equilateral – having all sides or faces equal
equivalent – alike or equal in number or value
pedicure – a foot treatment that could include soaking the feet and polishing the toenails
peddler - a person who goes door to door on foot trying to sell a product
STEMS – Unit 4
1. aqua = water
2. audi = hear
3. script = write
4. cede = go
5. sect = cut
Spelling Words & Definitions
Unit 4
1. aquatic – growing, living or done in water
2. aquarium – 1) a container in which living water animals are kept 2) a building in which water animals
are exhibited
3. audience – a group that listens or watches
4. auditorium – the part of a public building where an audience sits
5. script – a set of papers with writing that will be read out or acted out
6. prescription – a piece of paper written by a doctor that lets you get medicine at a pharmacy
7. recede – to move back or away
8. precede – to be or go before in importance, position, or time
9. dissect – to cut apart for the purposes of investigation
10. intersection – the point at which two line or roads meet and cut across each other
STEMS – Unit 5
1. cred = believe
2. miss = send
3. cide = kill
4. dict = say
5. man = hand
Spelling Words & Definitions
Unit 5
1. credible – possible to believe; deserving belief
2. credential – a document that proves a person is believable
3. intermission – a break between acts of a play or performance during which people are sent out for
snacks or stretch breaks
4. missile – an object (stone, arrow, bullet or rocket) that is dropped, thrown, shot or launched
usually so as to strike something at a distance
5. herbicide – a chemical substance used to destroy the growth of plants (ex. weeds)
6. pesticide – a substance used to destroy pests
7. dictator – a leader who speaks and rules with total power
8. verdict – the decision a jury makes in a trial; the decision said by the jury
9. maneuver – to handily or skillfully go around something; the act of changing the directions of a
moving object(s) Ex. ship, vehicle, troops
10. manipulate – to skillfully operate by hand; to manage or influence skillfully, especially in an unfair
manner
STEMS – Unit 6
1. spec = look
2. pend = hang
3. omni = all
4. re = again
5. port = carry
Spelling Words & Definitions
Unit 6
1.
2.
3.
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7.
perspective – one way of looking at things
spectator – a person who looks on (as at a sports event)
dependent – relying on someone else for support OR a person that relies on another for support
pending – 1) not yet decided 2) while waiting for
omnivore – an animal or person that eats food of both plant and animal origin
omniscient - knowing everything
refrain – 1) stop oneself from doing something again 2) phrase or verse that is repeated in a song or
poem
8. reunion – the act of reuniting, the state of being reunited
9. export – to carry out of the country; send goods or services to another country for sale
10. portable - capable of easily being carried
STEMS – Unit 7
1. bene = good
2. graph = writing
3. nov = new
4. cogn = know
5. tri = three
Spelling Words & Definitions
Unit 7
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beneficial – producing good results; helpful
benevolent – kind; good-hearted
biography – a book written about a person’s life
bibliography – the written list of all the books used in a report or book
novice – a person who has no previous experience with something; a beginner
novelty – something new or unusual
recognize – identify (someone or something) from having encountered them before
incognito – with one’s identity kept secret
trilogy – a set of three literary or dramatic works related in subject or theme
triathlon – an athletic contest in which each athlete competes in three events (swimming, cycling,
and running)
STEMS – Unit 8
1. ject = throw
2. dorm = sleep
3. auto = self
4. chron = time
5. geo/terra = land/earth
Spelling Words & Definitions
Unit 8
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injection – a shot; the throwing of medicine into the body by needles
reject – to throw something out because its defective and can’t be used again
dormant – being in an inactive state for the time being
dormitory – 1) a sleeping room, especially for a lot of people 2) a residence hall having many
sleeping quarters
autograph – a person’s signature written by hand OR to write one’s signature in or on a book
autobiography – the biography of a person written by that person
chronic – continuing for a long time or returning often (ex. a chronic disease or cough)
chronological – arranged in or according to the order of time
geology – the study of the earth, specifically rocks and planet’s crust
territory – an area, region, or piece of land
DO NOT USE UNIT 9 and UNIT 10!
STEMS – Unit 9
1. archy = government
2. bio = life
3. auto = self
4. chron = time
5. dec = ten
Spelling Words & Definitions
Unit 9
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Monarchy – government ruled by one person (ex. King)
Anarchy – the condition of a country where there is no government or law and order
Biotic – of or having to do with life or living organisms
Biography – a written history of a person’s life
Autograph – a person’s signature written by hand OR to write one’s signature in or on a book
Autobiography – the biography of a person written by that person
Chronic – continuing for a long time or returning often (ex. A chronic disease)
Chronological – arranged in or according to the order of time
Decade – a period of ten years
Decimal – based on the number 10: numbered or counting by tens
STEMS – Unit 10
1. geo = earth
2. scope = look
3. anti = against
4. intro = into
5. quad = four
Spelling Words & Definitions
Unit 10
1. Geography – a science that deals with the location of living and nonliving things on earth and the
way they affect one another 2) the natural features of an area
2. Geology – a science that deals with the history of the earth and its life especially as recorded in
rocks 2) the geologic features of an area
3. Telescope – an instrument shaped like a long tube that has lenses for viewing objects at a distance
and especially for observing objects in outer space
4. Microscope – an instrument with one or more lenses used to help a person to see something very
small by making it appear larger
5. Antibody – a substance produced by the body that counteracts the effects of a disease germ or its
poisons
6. Antisocial – being against or bad for society 2) unfriendly
7. Introduce – to bring into practice or use 2) to lead or bring in especially for the first time 3) make
known
8. Introvert – to turn or direct inward 2) to concentrate one’s interests upon oneself
9. Quadrilateral – a figure of four sides and four angles
10. Quadruple – having four parts 2) multiplied by four