Word Empire's™ trees can be used one at a time or referenced when a specific vocabulary list must be
learned. Random vocabulary lists can be difficult for students to digest, as each of the words are unrelated
etymologically to one another; Word Empire™ offers a common link that allows students to make better
sense of the words and their meanings. A teacher's discretion is a valuable asset in determining which trees
younger students would find most beneficial. Students that use Word Empire™ throughout their education
will have the distinct advantage of seeing the roots many times.
The most frustrating aspect of teaching vocabulary in the past has been the tedium involved. A teacher can
give all the statistics and promise all the verbal wonders in the world, but when it gets down to learning
vocabulary day in and day out, all but the best and most self-motivated of students will not only begin to feel
daunted by the task, but will also become, let's face it, bored.
Here is a suggestion to keep students' interest:
All Levels: Give groups of derivatives to your class, e.g.:
A. hemophilia, toxemia, hematoma, hematocrit, hypoxemia, hemorrhagic fever
B. arthritis, bronchitis, nephritis, dermatitis, encephalitis, gastroenteritis
With the given groups, do the ff.:
1. What do you think the root of each group might be (hint: what do they all have in common?)?
2. Once you have a guess, check with the teacher for aproval.
3. Define each word.
4. Find out what is common among the definitions.
5. Deduce the meaning of the roots.
6. Use Word Empire to look up the roots and define them.
7. Was your guess about the roots correct?
Use a table for this exercise, with spaces for the derivatives, possible root, definition, commonality between definitions, possible definition of root, actual root and definition, and "was your guess correct?"
Lesson plan developed by Patti Nicoll, 7th-form Life Sciences teacher, Saint Mary's Hall
For a complete list of suggestions that will keep students interest, click here. To submit a suggestion to Word Empire™, fill out our contact form.
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