1. Science Vocabulary Dissection: Root words and Morphemes
By: Allison Bush

2. Learning Objectives
Understand the function of root words, prefixes, and suffixes.
Create new words by adding prefixes and suffixes to root words.
Increase vocabulary understanding by applying prefix and suffix knowledge.

3. Let Us Form An Hypothesis!
How can you identify a root word, prefix and suffix? Give an example. Write your response in your science journal.
Pair and share your response with elbow partner(s).

4. Is Your Hypothesis Correct
Is Your Hypothesis Correct? Review the following video snippet: Root Words, Prefixes and Suffixes

5. I DO Strategy
A root is a word part that comes from another language, such as Greek or Latin.
Affixes can be divided into two categories: prefixes (appear at the beginning of words) and suffixes (appear at the end of words).

6. We Do Strategy
Observe the prefixes in the data chart. Can you identify other words with the same prefix? Pair and share.
PREFIX
ROOT (BASE) WORDS
EXAMPLE
Micro = small
scope = to see
Microscope
Therm = heat
meter = to measure
Thermometer
Re = again, back
flect = bend
Reflection

7. “Forget the manual, I’ll work it out”
We Do Strategy
Observe the suffixes in the data chart. Can you identify other words with the same suffix? Pair and share.
ROOT (BASE) WORDS
SUFFIX
EXAMPLE
Kinetic = motion
ic = having some characteristics of…
Kinesthetic
“Forget the manual, I’ll work it out”
Measure = dimension/quantity of something
ment = an action or resulting state 
Measurement
Electromagnetism = electric and magnetic fields and their
interactions
Ism = action or practice, state or condition, principles…
Electromagnetic field

8. You Do Strategy (BYOD Integration)
Directions: Use the picture clues, your background knowledge, and a dictionary ( to research and complete the data charts on prefixes and suffixes below.
PREFIX
ROOT (BASE) WORDS
EXAMPLE
_____ = ____
ROOT (BASE) WORDS
SUFFIX
EXAMPLE
_____ = ____

9. You Do Strategy (BYOD Integration)
Directions: Use the word bank, your background knowledge, and a dictionary ( to research and complete the data charts on root words, prefixes and suffixes below.
PREFIX
ROOT (BASE) WORDS
SUFFIX
chem 
change
scribe
type

10. Independent Practice
Refer to the index of your science text- book. Locate ten (10) specialized vocabulary terms that you are able to dissect, based on the strategies discussed in this power-point presentation.
Create a data table to identify and record their root words, prefixes and suffixes found in the words that you have chosen.