Tag Archives: science literacy

A Lesson Plan on the Latin Word Root Circum-

Alright, moving right along, here is a lesson plan on the Latin word root circum; it means around. It is, as this worksheet that is the mainstay of the lesson fairly quickly exposes, a very productive root in English. Moreover, these are words that are in very heavy use in educated discourse in this country, which is why your student or child should know them as well as the root at the base of them.

I open this lesson with the context clues on the adverb and adjective abroad. It is a conceptual antonym to words formed from circum-, and to the extent possible, the worksheet itself aims to hint at these words and their meanings–as well as the idea of an antonym.

That’s it for today. I hope you are at home and safe, and all young minds are engaged, wherever you are.

Godspeed.

If you find typos in these documents, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.

A Lesson Plan on Watson, Crick, and DNA

OK, folks, here is the last post for today, a lesson plan on Watson, Crick, and DNA. The work of this lesson is simply this short reading and its accompanying vocabulary-building and comprehension worksheet. I wrote this lesson last fall for the Personal Development class the school in which I served required its students to take. I wanted the material, and its presentation, to arouse the big essential question, “Is biology destiny?”

However, if you’re more interested in teaching this material as a science lesson, here is a slightly longer version of the reading and worksheet. If you want to amplify this lesson, especially for girls interested in science, the reading does mention Rosalind Franklin, whose story is a cautionary tale by any standard I recognize.

If you find typos in these documents, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.

Word Root Exercise: Nat

Here is a worksheet on the Latin word root nat, which means both birth and born. You will recognize it instantly as the basis of the word native, among many others. It is an extremely productive root in English.

If you find typos in this document, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.

Word Root Exercise: Zyg/o

Here is a worksheet on the Greek word root zyg/o. It means pair. It forms the basis of the noun zygote, among many other scientific words. This is yet another word students should know if they are interested in a career in the healthcare professions.

If you find typos in this document, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.

Supernova

Here is a reading on the supernova as the death of stars along with its vocabulary-building and comprehension worksheet. For the right student (and I’ve only taught a few of them, including the young man who requested these documents), this is high-interest material. 

If you find typos in these documents, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.

A Lesson Plan on the Greek Word Root Bio-

OK, before I go out for a walk on this beautiful early spring afternoon, here is a lesson plan on the Greek word root bio, which means life. I open this lesson with this context clues worksheet on the adjective vital, which hints for students at the meaning of word root at the base of of this lesson. Finally, here is the worksheet that is the primary work of this lesson.

I’ll assume, particularly of you science teachers, that I need not belabor the point of this root’s productivity in English, or its place at the base of so many words related to the life sciences.

If you find typos in these documents, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.

Word Root Exercise: Mar, Mari

Here is a worksheet on the Latin word roots mar and mari. They mean sea. These are very productive roots in English that yield commonly used words like maritime and mariner, to name just two. If you live near water of any kind, chances are good you have a marina offering its goods and services in your community.

If you find typos in this document, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.

Virus

Here is an extremely timely reading on viruses along with its vocabulary-building and comprehension worksheet. Enough said.

If you find typos in these documents, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.

Word Root Exercise: Zo, Zoo

Here is a worksheet on the Greek word roots zo and zoo, which mean animal and life–as in zoology.

If you find typos in this document, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.

German Measles

Here is a short reading on the German measles, also known as rubella, along with its accompanying vocabulary-building and comprehension worksheet. In some respects, this is a short reading on epidemiology as well, which, of course, makes it timely.

If you find typos in these documents, I would appreciate a notification. And, as always, if you find this material useful in your practice, I would be grateful to hear what you think of it. I seek your peer review.