Root Runners Slides Root Runners
Cracking the Secret Code of English Words
Grade 5 ESL 45 Minutes
What is a Root?
A root is a tiny part of a word that carries the main meaning.
"Like a plant root, a word root helps the word grow and stand tall!"
ROOT
Set 1: Life & Writing
BIO
= LIFE
Biology (Study of life)
Biography (Story of a life)
GRAPH
= WRITE / DRAW
Autograph (Self-write)
Photograph (Light-draw)
Set 2: Build & Distance
STRUCT
= BUILD
Construct (To build)
Instruct (To build knowledge)
TELE
= FAR / DISTANCE
Telescope (Look far away)
Telephone (Sound from far away)
Set 3: Action & Carry
MOV / MOT
= MOVE
Movement (To change place)
Motion (Act of moving)
PORT
= CARRY
Portable (Easy to carry)
Transport (Carry across)
Quick Brain Blast! ⚡
If TELE means FAR and
What does TELEPORT mean?
Root Runner Challenge
Step 1
Grab your Root Map organizer.
Step 2
Find a partner with a different root card.
Step 3
Create a super-word by combining your roots!
Root Map Graphic Organizer NAME:
DATE:
ROOT MAP
Exploring the DNA of Words
The Root
What does it mean?
Translation (Optional): _________________
Example Words
Use it in a Sentence
Draw a Picture
Root Runner Tip: When you find a root, you unlock a whole family of words!
Word Family Anchor Chart Root Runners Anchor Chart
Your Field Guide to Word Roots
ROOT
MEANING
EXAMPLES
BIO
LIFE
Biology Biography Biodiversity
GRAPH
WRITE / DRAW
Autograph Photograph Graphic
STRUCT
BUILD
Construct Structure Destruction
TELE
FAR AWAY
Telescope Telephone Television
MOV / MOT
MOVE
Movement Motion Motivate
PORT
CARRY
Portable Transport Export
Found a new root?
Write it here to grow your knowledge!
Root Power Flashcards Root Power Flashcards
Instructions: Cut along the dotted lines. Fold or glue back-to-back.
BIO
Front
LIFE
Example: Biology
Back
GRAPH
Front
WRITE / DRAW
Example: Autograph
Back
STRUCT
Front
BUILD
Example: Construct
Back
TELE
Front
FAR AWAY
Example: Telescope
Back
PORT
Front
CARRY
Example: Portable
Back
MOV
Front
MOVE
Example: Movement
Back
Word Match Worksheet Word Match Challenge
Root Runners Exercise
Name:
Date:
1
Match the ROOT to its MEANING.
BIO
GRAPH
TELE
STRUCT
PORT
A. Build
B. Far Away
C. Life
D. Carry
E. Write or Draw
2
Choose the correct word from the Word Bank.
Portable Telescope Biography Construct
1. I used a ____________________ to look at the stars far away.
2. Workers will ____________________ a new school in our city.
3. I read a ____________________ about the life of Martin Luther King Jr.
4. My laptop is ____________________ because I can carry it everywhere.
3
Create your own word!
Combine two roots or add a root to a word you know. What does it mean?
New Word:
Meaning:
Root Recap Exit Ticket Root Recap Exit Ticket
Show what you know!
NAME:
DATE:
1. Choose a root (bio, tele, port, etc.):
2. What does it mean?
3. Write a word with this root:
4. Use it in a sentence:
How do you feel today?
Confused
Getting there
I got it!
Root Recap Exit Ticket
Show what you know!
NAME:
DATE:
1. Choose a root (bio, tele, port, etc.):
2. What does it mean?
3. Write a word with this root:
4. Use it in a sentence:
How do you feel today?
Confused
Getting there
I got it!
Root Recap Exit Ticket
Show what you know!
NAME:
DATE:
1. Choose a root (bio, tele, port, etc.):
2. What does it mean?
3. Write a word with this root:
4. Use it in a sentence:
How do you feel today?
Confused
Getting there
I got it!
Root Runners Teacher Guide Teacher Resource
Root Runners Guide
45-Minute Vocabulary Lesson • Grade 5 ESL
45 Minutes
Materials Needed
Root Runners Slides
Root Map Organizers (1 per student)
Root Power Flashcards (1 set per pair)
Word Match Worksheet (1 per student)
Scissors/Glue (for flashcards)
Exit Tickets (ready for the end)
Learning Goal
Students will understand that words can be broken into roots to discover meaning, specifically focusing on 6 core Greek and Latin roots.
Lesson Pacing
10 min
Hook & Presentation (Slides 1-5)
Introduce the concept of a "Word Root" using the tree analogy. Go through the 3 sets of roots (Bio/Graph, Struct/Tele, Mov/Port). Use Total Physical Response (TPR) for each root:
BIO: Hands over heart (Life).GRAPH: Pretend to write in the air (Write).STRUCT: Stack fists on top of each other (Build).
15 min
The Root Map (Guided Practice)
Students receive the Root Map Graphic Organizer . Assign one specific root to each group. Have them fill it out together while you circulate.
ESL Tip: Allow students to write the translation of the meaning in their home language in the "Translation" box provided.
15 min
Root Challenge (Word Match)
Students work individually on the Word Match Worksheet . If finished early, they can use the Root Power Flashcards to quiz a partner.
5 min
Exit Ticket & Brain Blast
Collect the Root Recap Exit Tickets . Check Slide 6 for the final "Brain Blast" question to end with a fun challenge!
ESL Support & Differentiation
Scaffolding (Level 1-2)
Encourage students to use the Word Family Anchor Chart throughout the whole lesson. Use the visual icons on the flashcards to prompt memory instead of just the English words.
Extension (Level 3-4)
Challenge students in Part 3 of the worksheet to combine two roots (e.g., "Biograph") and explain how the two meanings work together to create the word's definition.
