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School SCRABBLE® Activities: Issue #13

Educators and parents have been asking us for more School SCRABBLE® activities. Here they are! Every two weeks, a new page will be posted. We welcome your questions and suggestions. Send them to Cindy McCaffery.

[cartoon of Greek column]

More Greek Roots

[cartoon of Greek column]

March 12-23, 2001

Most of the words in the English language originated in other languages. Understanding the meaning of foreign root words will help students unlock the meaning of many English words. Write the following Greek roots: CYCL, GRAM, SCOP on the chalkboard. Call on students to think of words that contain these roots (Example: bicycle, cycle, telegram, grammar, microscope, telescope) Based on these words students think of, ask them what the meaning of the root words might be.

CYCL

means "circle or ring"

[cartoon of bicycle]

GRAM

means "letter, written"

SCOP

means "see"


Explain to students that understanding the meaning of a root word can often help them figure out the meaning of an unknown word. Have students find words that contain these Greek roots and post their findings on a bulletin board. Periodically review the words on the bulletin board and have students provide definitions. As students learn new roots add them to the bulletin board display. (Possible responses include: telegram, diagram, grammar, epigram, monogram, hexagram, bicycle, cyclone, cycle, encyclopedia, tricycle, microscope, telescope, scope, stethoscope)

Remind students to look for word roots on their racks when they play the SCRABBLE® game. They may be able to use the word root to make a longer word.

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Browse our archives for back issues from 2000 (issues #1-8) and 2001 (issue #9 and on).

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