teaching resource

Greek and Latin Roots – Card Kaboom!

Updated: 04 Aug 2022

Explore Greek and Latin word origins with this hand-on card game.

Editable: Google Slides
Non-Editable: PDF
Pages: 1 Page
Years: 4 - 6

Curriculum

VC2E4LY04

Understand how to use knowledge of letter patterns, including double letters, spelling generalisations, morphological word families, word origins, and common prefixes and suffixes to spell more complex words <ul> <li>applying generalisations for adding affixes; for example, ‘hope’ becomes ‘hoping’, ‘begin’ becomes ‘beginning’, ‘country’ becomes ‘countries’</li> <li>building morphemic word families and exploring word origins, for example ‘tricycle’, ‘tripod’ and ‘triangle’</li> </ul>
VC2E5LY04

Build and spell new words from knowledge of known words, base words, prefixes and suffixes, word origins (etymology), letter patterns and spelling generalisations <ul> <li>using knowledge of known words and base words to spell new words, for example the spelling and meaning connections between ‘vision’, ‘television’ and ‘revision’</li> <li>applying knowledge of spelling generalisations to spell new words, for example ‘suitable’, ‘likeable’ and ‘collapsible’</li> </ul>
VC2E6LY04

Use their knowledge of known words, base words, prefixes, suffixes, letter patterns, spelling generalisations and word origins (etymology), including some Latin and Greek roots, to spell new words, including technical words <ul> <li>using a dictionary to explore word origins, including some Greek roots, in order to spell words; for example, the Greek root ‘ath’ meaning ‘contest’ or ‘outstanding skill’, ‘pent’ meaning the number 5 and ‘dec’ meaning the number 10 inform the spelling and meaning of the words ‘athlete’, ‘pentathlon’ and ‘decathlon’</li> <li>applying accumulated knowledge of a wide range of letter patterns and spelling generalisations to spell new words, for example ‘ratio’ and ‘synthesis’</li> <li>expanding knowledge of prefixes and suffixes, and exploring meaning relationships between words, for example ‘disappearance’, ‘submarine’, ‘subterranean’, ‘poisonous’ and ‘nervous’</li> <li>applying accumulated knowledge of a wide range of letter patterns and spelling generalisations to spell new words; for example, knowing how and why these words are spelt as follows: ‘reliability’, ‘handkerchief’, ‘receive’, ‘lollies’, ‘trolleys’, ‘climbing’, ‘designed’ and ‘emergency’</li> <li>spelling technical words by applying morphemic knowledge, for example ‘metaphorical’, ‘biology’ and ‘biodegradable’</li> </ul>

teaching resource

Greek and Latin Roots – Card Kaboom!

Updated: 04 Aug 2022

Explore Greek and Latin word origins with this hand-on card game.

Editable: Google Slides
Non-Editable: PDF
Pages: 1 Page
Years: 4 - 6

Explore Greek and Latin word origins with this hand-on card game.

Can Learning Greek and Latin Word Origins Be Fun? You Bet It Can!

Why teach Greek and Latin word origins with worksheets when you can learn with a fun and engaging card game?

This card game has been designed to teach your students about the origins and meanings of a collection of commonly used root words. The aim of the game is to match a selection of words with their root meanings of Greek or Latin origin. Players win by being the first person to use all of the cards in their hand.

The root words included in the resource are as follows:

Greek root words: derm (skin), geo (earth), phon (sound), auto (self), cardi (heart), gram (writing)
Latin root words: min (small), struct (build), vid or vis (see), fract (break).

The resource includes:

instructions for game set-up and play
a set of word cards, each containing a Greek or Latin root word
a set of root meaning cards
an answer key.

Tips for Differentiation + Scaffolding

A team of dedicated, experienced educators created this resource for students to work on as an English group activity.

If you have a mixture of above and below-level learners, check out these suggestions for keeping students on track with the concepts:

🆘 Support Struggling Students

The purpose of this game is to learn about words and how they work… not to be stressed by unfamiliar words! Provide students with a dictionary or allow them to use an online equivalent if they need to look up the meaning of new vocabulary. Word definitions will hopefully provide the additional information they require to complete the next steps in the game.

➕ A Greater Challenge

Challenge those students who require extension by having them create word banks for the root words contained in the game. Perhaps offer a prize to the student who creates the longest list… extra points for definitions!

Download the File Format That Best Suits Your Classroom!

Use the dropdown menu next to the Download button to select from the colour or black and white version of this resource. An editable Google Slides file is also available should you wish to change any of the included words.

Check out these other great resources to liven up your English lessons!

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Curriculum

VC2E4LY04

Understand how to use knowledge of letter patterns, including double letters, spelling generalisations, morphological word families, word origins, and common prefixes and suffixes to spell more complex words <ul> <li>applying generalisations for adding affixes; for example, ‘hope’ becomes ‘hoping’, ‘begin’ becomes ‘beginning’, ‘country’ becomes ‘countries’</li> <li>building morphemic word families and exploring word origins, for example ‘tricycle’, ‘tripod’ and ‘triangle’</li> </ul>
VC2E5LY04

Build and spell new words from knowledge of known words, base words, prefixes and suffixes, word origins (etymology), letter patterns and spelling generalisations <ul> <li>using knowledge of known words and base words to spell new words, for example the spelling and meaning connections between ‘vision’, ‘television’ and ‘revision’</li> <li>applying knowledge of spelling generalisations to spell new words, for example ‘suitable’, ‘likeable’ and ‘collapsible’</li> </ul>
VC2E6LY04

Use their knowledge of known words, base words, prefixes, suffixes, letter patterns, spelling generalisations and word origins (etymology), including some Latin and Greek roots, to spell new words, including technical words <ul> <li>using a dictionary to explore word origins, including some Greek roots, in order to spell words; for example, the Greek root ‘ath’ meaning ‘contest’ or ‘outstanding skill’, ‘pent’ meaning the number 5 and ‘dec’ meaning the number 10 inform the spelling and meaning of the words ‘athlete’, ‘pentathlon’ and ‘decathlon’</li> <li>applying accumulated knowledge of a wide range of letter patterns and spelling generalisations to spell new words, for example ‘ratio’ and ‘synthesis’</li> <li>expanding knowledge of prefixes and suffixes, and exploring meaning relationships between words, for example ‘disappearance’, ‘submarine’, ‘subterranean’, ‘poisonous’ and ‘nervous’</li> <li>applying accumulated knowledge of a wide range of letter patterns and spelling generalisations to spell new words; for example, knowing how and why these words are spelt as follows: ‘reliability’, ‘handkerchief’, ‘receive’, ‘lollies’, ‘trolleys’, ‘climbing’, ‘designed’ and ‘emergency’</li> <li>spelling technical words by applying morphemic knowledge, for example ‘metaphorical’, ‘biology’ and ‘biodegradable’</li> </ul>

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