Volume 3, Issue 1
Special Interest Articles:
• Book Review –
English from
the Roots Up
“I Can’t Believe We’re Giving This Away”
Newsletter
Welcome to
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Free Worksheets: Greek and Latin Root Words
• Greek and Latin
Roots Worksheets
Individual Highlights:
Free Worksheets:
Greek and
Latin Roots
Explanation
1-4
Book Review –
English from
the Roots Up
CreateBetterWriters.com
Presents the
4-5
Workshop
Information
6
Root Words
Worksheet #1
7
Root Words:
List of Fifteen
Greek and
Latin Roots
8-9
When it comes to
vocabulary development for our
students, the phrase “work smarter,
not harder” definitely applies.
There are thousands, upon
thousands, of words in the English
language. Obtaining a working
knowledge of these words can be an
overwhelming task.
If the average student is
exposed to twenty words a week,
they will have studied over seven
hundred words by the end of the
school year. How many of those
words will they really remember?
What if you can teach your
students thousands of words simply
by memorizing one hundred root
words? If your students could
memorize one hundred root words,
they would have access to
thousands of powerful vocabulary
words. This would be working
smarter, not harder.
An excellent example of this
theory is illustrated by an event
involving a friend of mine
from college and me. We were
studying together, and we came
across a title that said “Verbum
Dei”. Having gone to a Catholic
school of the same name, he knew
exactly what this phrase meant.
Smugly, he asked, “Do you know
what this phrase means?”
Having just taught the word
“verbum”, meaning “word”, to my
class I immediately had a clue. I
already knew that “dei” meant
“God” (from deity). Therefore, I
deduced that the phrase meant
“Word of God”.
My friend was impressed
that I knew the phrase. However, I
am even more impressed when I see
my students go beyond the lessons
they’ve learned from these one
hundred Greek and Latin words.
Not only have I seen my students
use their knowledge of the root
words that we’ve learned, they have
learned to look for word origins
completely on their own just as I
had done.
Several students from every
MC Publications Monthly
Page 2 of 9
Free Worksheets: Greek and Latin Root
Words
class I’ve
taught will go beyond memorizing the words I give them.
When looking
up unfamiliar words, it becomes standard procedure to look for the origin of the
word. (A good dictionary will have word origins listed within the definition.)
Root Words Worksheets
This first worksheet was created to go with
the book English from the Roots Up. (See the book
review in this newsletter.) This book lists a
hundred root words, their definitions, and English
words that are derived from them.
As you can see from the worksheets, I’ve
typed fifteen roots. You have the roots’ definitions
and three words that come from that root.
Although this list will give you a good start, I
Work Smarter,
Not Harder!
highly recommend purchasing a copy of English
from the Roots Up.
A System That Improves:
Writing Assessment
Descriptive Writing
Vocabulary Development
Writing Tricks
Research Reports
Letter Writing
Much More!
Order your copy at:
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The first worksheet has the students put the
root word at the top followed by the definition. The
students are then asked to write the definition of the
words.
Next, the students are to draw a study picture
to help them remember the definitions of the words.
The study picture should help them remember the
definition of the word. For example, for “photos”,
the students might draw a photograph of a light bulb.
This will help them remember that “photos” means
“light”. Finally, the students practice using the new
words they’ve learned within a sentence.
I recommend going one step further. Have the students put the root word
and vocabulary words on flash-cards as they complete the worksheet.
The students keep their flashcards in baggies. Each week, as they learn new words,
they will accumulate many flashcards. After the students have
Page 3 of 9
MC Publications Monthly
Free Worksheets: Greek and Latin Root
Words
poster. On Wednesday and Thursday
learned ten words, create a test. The
students will study all of their
the students complete the next root
flashcards which will help keep all the
word. (The same root word worksheet
words fresh in their minds.
is copied on the back of the paper.) On
Weekly Procedure
The posters below hang in my
Fridays, the students make the
flashcards. In ten minutes a day, the
students are learning two root words
classroom. Every morning, as my
and four strong vocabulary words that
students enter the classroom, my
are derived from that root.
students have a “smart start” procedure
that they follow. While I take roll,
THE definitive work on
teaching the
Five-Paragraph Essay!
collect notes, check homework, etc...
the students automatically do several
tasks. One of these tasks is the root
Order your copy at:
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word activity.
At the end of five weeks, the
students have learned ten root words
and twenty strong vocabulary words.
In the sixth week, we take a break from
learning new root words. Instead, these
On Monday and Tuesday, the
thirty words become their spelling list
students complete the first worksheet
for the week. The students use the ten
with whatever root word is on the
minutes of their smart start time to
Page 4 of 9
Free Worksheets: Greek and Latin Root
Words
study their
flashcards. On Friday, they
consuming. However, a few good
take a spelling and vocabulary test on
parent volunteers would make quick
the words. For added benefit, have the
work for this task.
students use any five of the new words
in a sentence.
The second option would be to type
the root words on paper much like the
Materials Needed
list I’ve given to you here. You can
To prepare your class for this
have the students keep the list in a
assignment, there are two things that
folder. All the students would need to
you can do. First, you can put each
do is take the list out every morning
word on a poster or flip chart as shown
and use it as a reference.
in the pictures on the previous page.
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6
Grades 7-8
Home School Edition
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For more excellent ways of building
Over the school year you can go
your students vocabulary skills, look
through over sixty root words requiring
for The Complete Writing Program at
sixty posters. This can be time
CreateBetterWriters.com.
Book Review – English from the Roots Up
Joegil Lundquist
The free lesson worksheets in
this newsletter are based on the book
English From the Roots Up. It has
the area of vocabulary
development.
At the heart of this
been an invaluable part of my
book are the one
classroom instruction for well over a
hundred Greek and
decade. It has always been my
Latin roots. Each root is listed in
philosophy that students need to
large print on its own page. The
become life long learners. Additionally,
definition is clearly listed below the
students need to learn to take charge of
word along with six or seven words
their own learning, rather than
that are derived from that root.
depending on teachers to hand them
The definitions of these words are
knowledge. To that end, English from
cleverly written. The definitions are
the Roots Up helps meet these goals in
written in such a way that the
Book Review – English from the Roots Up
Page 5 of 9
students can see how the definitions
The book also includes a list of the
of the root words apply to the
letters in the Greek
meaning of the new words. For
alphabet along with a
example, the first root word is
pronunciation key. The
“photos”, meaning “light”. One of
pronunciation key will
the words that derive from “photos”
help make sure that you pronounce
is “phototropic”. The definition gives
the root words correctly. Finally, you
are then given
the meaning of “tropos”, meaning “to
receive two separate indices. The
teacher’s notes that
turn”. Next, you see that
first gives you a list of all the root
give you more
“phototropic” means “turning toward
words in the book listed in the order
light”.
presented. The second index lists all
Just in case the definitions are
seven Greek roots in alphabetical
teacher’s notes that give you more
order.
explanation of the worksheets in this
explains that phototropic is a property
newsletter, you have seen how I’ve
of plants that compels leaves to turn
made this book as accessible as
toward light for
possible for my students. You’ve
food. Additionally,
been given a sample of some of the
the author even
roots from this book, but I highly
gives you ideas that
recommend that you receive all one
will help you illustrate the words
hundred words. By learning one
more clearly for your students.
word a week, your students will now
have access to thousands of words. If
get several more wonderful features.
you are home schooling your
Each page lists several more words
children, you have the luxury of time.
that come from that root. These
Within a few years your children will
words are not as common, but still
have a very strong language base.
provide a deeper insight to each root.
clear enough, you
background on the
words.”
If you have read the
case of “phototropic”, the author
If all that weren’t enough, you
definitions are not
sixty-three Latin roots and thirty-
not clear enough, you are then given
background about the words. In the
“Just in case the
English from
the Roots Up
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Copy at:
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Writers.com’s
Book Store
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Workshops Available - Reading / Writing / Grammar
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California, workshops can be
development, David Dye is a teacher /
arranged on weekends and in the
trainer who has written seven books
summer. Summer workshops are
and presented all over the country.
available from late June through late
Workshops can be designed to meet
August.
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* Idioms – Part IV
* Book Review: Mindful
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Root Words
Root Word - ___________________________________ Greek / Latin
Definition - _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
2 Words:
Definition
1. _______________________ - _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
2. _______________________ - _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
Picture Dictionary
Root Word
Word #1
Word #2
Words in a Sentence
1. ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
CreateBetterWriters.com
Greet and Latin
Root Words
1. photos (G) – light
photograph – picture drawn by light
telephoto – light from far away
photosynthesis – putting together using light
2. graph (G) – to write or draw
phonograph – writing sound
graphite – black carbon used for writing
autograph – writing one’s own name
3. metron (G) – measure
geometry – measurement of the earth
barometer – device that measures air pressure
thermometer – device that measures heat
4. philia (G) – love, friendship
philosopher – one who loves wisdom
philanthropist – one who loves his fellow man
Anglophile - one who loves England
5. phobos (G) – fear
phobia – irrational fear
claustrophobia – fear of closed places
hydrophobia – fear of water
6. phone (G) – sound
euphony – good or pleasant sound
megaphone – device that makes sound louder
symphony – many sounds put together forming music
7. sonus (L) – sound
sonar – device that hears sound under water
sonata – music with no lyrics made from three or four movements
sonic – relating to sound waves
8. verbum (L) – word
verb – action word
proverb – wise word
verbose – a lot of talking (words)
9. nomen (L) – name
nominate – to suggest someone’s name for office
nominal – in name only; not real
denomination – names of categories
10. manus (L) - hand
manufacture – to make by hand
manuscript – written by hand
manual – to operate by hand
11. pedis (L) – foot
pedestal – the foot of a column
pedicure – to care for the foot
pedestrian – someone who walks
12. corpus (L) – body
corpse – dead body
corporation – a legally formed group or body
corpuscle – small part of the body
13. pyro (G) – fire
pyrotechnics – fireworks
pyromanic – a crazy person who plays with fire
pyrite – stone used to make fire (a.k.a. “Fool’s Gold”)
14. hydros (G) – water
hydrophobia – fear of the water
hydroelectric – electricity produced by moving water
dehydrate – take water away
15. aqua (L) – water
aquarium – tank of water where fish and plants can live
aqueduct – a structure that brings water where it is needed
Aquarius – a constellation called “Water Carrier”
Latin Numbers:
unus 1, duo 2, tres 3, quattuor 4, quinque 5, octo 8, centum 100, mille 1000