EQUIPMENT

Pencil & paper for each student.

DESCRIPTION

Although students could work alone, this activity is more productive if students work in small groups (of 2 or 3).

The teacher provides the students with a “word root” (see examples below).

Students have a set amount of time (3 - 5 minutes) to write down as many words as they can that contain that “word root”.  The “word root” may be at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the word.

Students should be encouraged to suggest words even if they are uncertain about how to spell them.  (See AFTER section.)

A scoring system may be applied - giving students 1 point for each word (perhaps with a bonus point if the word root has been used in a specified way).

EXAMPLE:    Word root = temp (specified way = “to do with time”)

                    tempest scores 1 point

                    temperature scores 1 point

                    temporary scores one point PLUS a bonus point

VARIATION: Use of dictionaries or thesauruses could be allowed.

BEFORE

None

AFTER

Students can be encouraged to look up the words on their list to verify correct spellings or to provide a brief meaning for each word.

SEE ALSO the BrainBites activity “Invent-a-name”

LOGICAL

MUSICAL

INTRA-PERS.

PHYSICAL

LINGUISTIC

INTER-PERS.

NATURALIST

VISUAL

SUGGESTED WORD ROOTS

anti

ation

ben

bi

bio

cent

con

dec

di

ex

fort

geo

graph

in

less

milli

mis

mono

ness

oct

ology

pan

per

poly

pro

quad

rate

semi

tech

tele

tri

uni