This document provides examples of mini lessons on vocabulary building using word roots, prefixes, and suffixes. It includes the relevant Common Core Standards and outlines the KUDs (Know, Understand, Do) for each lesson. Sample activities are described where students analyze and define words based on their meaningful parts. Models are given to demonstrate how to determine a word's meaning based on its affixes and roots. Lists of affixes and roots are included for students to use in creating and defining new words. Assessments involve answering teacher questions, writing definitions, and using the words in sentences.

1. Sample Vocab Mini Lessons
Affix Warm Ups

2. ~ Latin Root Words ~

3. Common Core Standards
Standard (MDCCRS):
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.L.4
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases by
using context clues, analyzing meaningful word parts, and consulting general and
specialized reference materials, as appropriate.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.L.6
Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and
phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career
readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when
encountering an unknown term important to comprehension or expression.

4. KUDO’s
Know
The meanings of various Latin root words
Understand
How the roots of words contribute to the overall meaning
Do
Develop definitions based on word roots

5. Activities
1) Warm Up
2) At some point prior, the teacher
provides students with the list of
Latin roots.
3) The teacher models the development
of a word definition based on the
Latin root
4) Students work together to develop
definitions of listed words based on
the meaning of the roots
5) Discuss meanings / correct / clarify
6) Students work together to create
sentences using the newly defined
words.
Assessments
Answers to teacher’s questions
Definitions
Sentences

6. Model
I look at the word, “ambidextrous”.
I know that “ambi” means “both”.
I know that dexterity has to do with the ability to use my hands.
Therefore, I’m guessing that “ambidextrous” means being able to use both hands.

7. Latin Roots
Use the Latin roots chart to dissect these words and construct a definition using the
meaning of the root word in the definition.
Percent
Factory
Projection
Dictator
Material

8. ~ Greek Root Words ~

9. Common Core Standards
Standard (MDCCRS):
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.L.4
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases by
using context clues, analyzing meaningful word parts, and consulting general and
specialized reference materials, as appropriate.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.L.6
Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and
phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career
readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when
encountering an unknown term important to comprehension or expression.

10. KUDO’s
Know
The meanings of various Greek root words
Understand
How the roots of words contribute to the overall meaning
Do
Develop definitions based on word roots

11. Activities
1) Warm Up
2) At some point prior, the teacher
provides students with the list of
Greek roots.
3) The teacher models the development
of a word definition based on the
Greek root.
4) Students work together to develop
definitions of listed words based on
the meaning of the roots.
5) Discuss meanings / correct / clarify
6) Students work together to create
sentences using the newly defined
words.
Assessments
Answers to teacher’s questions
Definitions
Sentences

12. Model
I look at he word, “autobiography”.
I know that “auto” means “self”.
I know that biographies are books written about people’s lives.
Therefore, I’m guessing that an “autobiography” is a book about a person’s life
written by that person themselves.

13. Greek Roots
Use the Greek roots chart to dissect these words and construct a definition using the
meaning of the root word in the definition.
Anthropologist
Chronological
Hypothermia
Perimeter
Symphony

14. ~ Prefixes ~

15. Common Core Standards
Standard (MDCCRS):
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.L.4
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases by
using context clues, analyzing meaningful word parts, and consulting general and
specialized reference materials, as appropriate.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.L.6
Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and
phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career
readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when
encountering an unknown term important to comprehension or expression.

16. KUDO’s
Know
The meanings of various prefixes
Understand
How prefixes of words contribute to the overall meaning
Do
Create words using sets of roots and prefixes

17. Activities
1) Warm Up
2) At some point prior, the teacher
provides students with the list of
prefixes and their meanings.
3) The teacher models the creation of a
word and its definition.
4) Students work together to create
words using the set of roots and
prefixes. These words may be actual
words, or simply made up words.
5) Discuss meanings / correct / clarify
6) Students work together to create
sentences using the newly defined
words.
Assessments
Answers to teacher’s questions
Definitions
Sentences

18. Prefix Play
Pair roots and prefixes. Combine them, and then create definitions for the words
that were created.
Root
Mal
Mater
Mit
Scribe
Multi
Struct
Chron
Dyna
Prefix
Over-
Pre-
Re-
Semi-
Inter-
Mid-
Mis-
Non-
Re-
Semi-
Sub-
Super-
Un-
Micro
Mono
Psycho
Scope
Tele
Therm

19. Model
I know that the prefix, “anti” means to be against.
I know that the Latin root word “cent” means one hundred
Therefore, the word “anticent” means being opposed to the number one hundred or
all.

20. ~ Suffixes ~

21. Common Core Standards
Standard (MDCCRS):
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.L.4
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases by
using context clues, analyzing meaningful word parts, and consulting general and
specialized reference materials, as appropriate.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.L.6
Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and
phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career
readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when
encountering an unknown term important to comprehension or expression.

22. KUDO’s
Know
The meanings of various suffixes
Understand
How suffixes of words contribute to the overall meaning
Do
Create words using sets of roots and suffixes

23. Activities
1) Warm Up
2) At some point prior, the teacher
provides students with the list of
suffixes and their meanings.
3) The teacher models the creation of a
word and its definition.
4) Students work together to create
words using the set of roots and
suffixes. These words may be actual
words, or simply made up words.
5) Discuss meanings / correct / clarify
6) Students work together to create
sentences using the newly defined
Assessments
Answers to teacher’s questions
Definitions
Sentences

24. Suffix Play
Pair roots and suffixes. Combine them, and then create definitions for the words
that were created.
Root
Ambi
Cent
Circum
Fort
Jud
Gram
Logy
Nym
Suffix
-able
-ial
-est
-ful
-ive
-less
-ity
-ly
-tion
-ment
-eous
-y
Phil
Mono
Pseudo
Photo
Techno
Morph

25. Model
I know that the suffix, “ic” means “having the characteristics of”.
I know that the Greek root word “morph” means shape or form
Therefore, the word “morphic” means sort of having the characteristics of the shape
of something.