Unit 10.3: Choices
English as a Second Language
Learning Activities – Greek and Latin Derivations
Greek and Latin Derivations
The teacher will introduce and discuss at least one word family each week. The teacher should allow
students to brainstorm different words that contain the word family. Students can keep the list in their
reflection journals on their personal “word wall” and continue adding words they find in the readings
during the unit to their lists. The class should also work together to add words from read-alouds and
other class readings to a class word wall.
The following are some Latin and Greek Derivations worth teaching according to Tim Rasinski
(www.timrasinski.com)
Prefixes
Ante
Anti
Auto
Bi
Centi
Co (m, n)
Extra
Mega
Micro
Mid
Mono
Multi
Pre
Re
Semi, hemi
Super
Tele
Ultra
Un
Meaning
Before
Against
Self
Two
Hundred
With, together
More, beyond
Large
Small
Middle
One
Many
Before
Again
Half
Over
Distant
Beyond
Not
Other Word Parts
Aero
Aud
Biblio
Bio
Chron
Dem
Gram
Graph
Hydr
Lab
Mand
Max
Pod
Phob
Phon
Photo
Polis
Port
Scop
Struct
Terr(a)
Therm
Volv
Vor
Meaning
Air
Hear
Book
Life
Time
People
Write
Write
Water
Work
Order
Greatest
Foot
Fear
Sound
Light
City
Carry
See
Build
Land
Heat
Roll
Eat

The following is an example of a brainstorm using the word part, ‘terra’ which means ‘land’.
Terracotta Terranova
Terrier
Terrarium Territory Mediterranean
Terrace
Terrapin

The teacher should lead the class in discussing how the words can be connected with ‘land’.

Toward the end of the unit, when students have built a word bank of Greek and Latin roots, they can
begin making up their own words using combinations of word parts for new meanings. The following
is an example of student created words:
o
Autophile (a lover of self – conceited)
o
Matermand (an order given by a mother)
Source:https://www.georgiastandards.org/Frameworks/GSO%20Frameworks/Grade6_Unit3_finding_purpose.pdf 1