Learning the Words: Device and Engineer

Khan Academy

This educational video introduces students to the vocabulary words "device" and "engineer" through a narrative involving a mysterious package. The narrator, identifying as a "Wordsmith," uses the delivery of an unknown object to springboard into defining "device" as a noun meaning an object with a specific purpose, using an apple slicer as a concrete example. He then explores the word "engineer," defining it as both a noun (a person who designs machines using science) and a verb (the act of designing), while also breaking down the word's etymology by highlighting the root "engine" and the suffix "-eer." The content focuses on vocabulary acquisition, word morphology, and the relationship between function and design. It breaks down complex definitions into accessible language and uses visual aids—like diagrams and simple line animations on a blackboard style background—to reinforce meaning. The video explicitly teaches how suffixes like "-eer" indicate a person who performs an action (e.g., mountaineer, puppeteer), helping students build word analysis skills. For teachers, this video serves as an excellent cross-curricular bridge between English Language Arts and STEM. It can be used to introduce an engineering unit by defining key terms or as part of a literacy lesson on suffixes and definitions. The engaging mystery of the "green box" keeps students interested, while the clear, annotated text on screen supports reading comprehension and note-taking.