Start off the year by encouraging your students to get excited about words and their meanings. Present the following words to them. Ask them to think about each word's meaning and possible origin. After students have had time to think about the words, have them share their ideas with the rest of the class. Then, provide them with the information that follows each word.

Alphabet

The only multi-syllable word that is composed of names of letters - the Greek alpha (a) and beta (b). The letters in the English alphabet can be combined to form more than a half million words. There are 65 different alphabets used throughout the world. The Cambodian alphabet has 72 letters, the most of any alphabet. The language spoken on Bougainville, an island in the South Pacific, has just 11 letters.

Academy

This word, which means "an institution devoted to learning" took its name from the Grove of Academus near Athens, Greece. In 387 B.C. the philosopher Plato taught his students under the trees of this grove. Plato's school of philosophy became known as Academia. Many hundreds of years later, scholars used the term academy to signify a place of learning.

Education

This word originated in the Latin language word educare which means "to raise a child."

Encyclopedia

This word comes from the Greek en kyklo meaning "in a circle" and paideia "teaching of children."

Library

This word is derived from the Latin word liber which means "book." The first known library, consisting of clay tablets with writing on them, was discovered in ancient Babylonia. The tablets are thought to be over 4,000 years old.

Student

This word is derived from the Latin word studere which means "to devote oneself, study."

Teacher

This word is derived from the Middle English word techen which means "to show or instruct."