Objective:

Students will explore root words and use glossaries or dictionaries to determine the meanings of related words. They will collaborate in groups to create word trees, linking root words to their derivatives. This process integrates computational thinking by organizing words and their meanings in a visual, hierarchical structure.

Materials Needed:

• Word cards with root words and their related forms (e.g., "care," "careful," "careless")

• Large paper or whiteboards for creating word trees

• Print and/or digital glossaries or dictionaries

Steps:

• Introduction:

  • Begin by explaining how many words share a common root, and understanding the root word can help decipher the meaning of related words. 

  • Use "company" and "companion" as examples, showing how the root "com-" means "together."

  •  Explain that students will create word trees to organize related words based on their roots.

• Group Activity:

  • Divide students into small groups and give each group a set of word cards that include a root word and its related forms (e.g., "care," "careful," "careless"). 

  • Students will work together to build a word tree on a large piece of paper or whiteboard, placing the root word at the base and adding related words as branches.

• Using Glossaries and Dictionaries:

  • Students will use print or digital glossaries to look up any unfamiliar words or confirm meanings. 

  • As they research, they will write short definitions or examples for each word on their word tree. 

  • This reinforces how computational thinking involves gathering, organizing, and interpreting data.

• Presentation and Discussion:

  • Each group will present their word tree to the class, explaining how the root word connects to its derivatives and how understanding the root helped them determine the meanings of the related words. 

  • Discuss how glossaries and dictionaries are useful tools for clarifying word meanings.

Equity and Access:

Offer glossaries with images or simpler definitions for students who need additional support. Provide word cards with varying complexity to accommodate different learning levels.

Real-World Application:

Explain that understanding root words is important for decoding unfamiliar words in daily life, such as when reading new material in science or history, or when encountering legal or technical terms.

CS Practice(s):

• Developing and Using Abstractions: Students categorize words by their roots, creating a visual model that organizes word relationships.

Standard(s):

• CA CCSS.ELA-Literacy.3.L.4.c

• CA CS K-2.AP.13

Objective:

Students will use Scratch Jr., Scratch, or a favorite coding platform to create digital animations that represent the meaning of new words formed by adding affixes to base words (e.g., "agreeable" vs. "disagreeable"). Through this process, students will explore how affixes modify the meaning of a word, while integrating computational thinking by designing and sequencing animations.

Materials Needed:

• Tablets or computers

• A list of base words with common affixes (e.g., "comfortable/uncomfortable," "care/careless")

Steps:

• Introduction:

  • Start by discussing what affixes are and how adding prefixes or suffixes to a base word changes its meaning. 

  • Use examples like "agreeable" and "disagreeable" to show how affixes modify the word. 

  • Explain that students will create two scenes in a coding platform to animate the meaning of words with and without affixes.

• Group Activity:

  • In pairs, students will choose a base word and its affixed form from the list (e.g., "comfortable" and "uncomfortable"). 

  • They will discuss how the meaning changes and what visuals could represent these differences. 

  • For instance, one scene might show a character relaxing comfortably on a couch, while the next scene shows the same character shifting uncomfortably.

• Creating and Coding:

  • Students will code their animations, representing the base word in one scene and the affixed word in another. 

  • They will program actions for their characters, illustrating how the meaning changes with the affix.

• Testing and Refining:

  • Once the animations are complete, students will test them to ensure the scenes clearly show the differences in meaning. 

  • They will refine their projects by adjusting timing or adding further details to the characters' actions or expressions.

• Presentation and Discussion:

  • Pairs will present their animations to the class, explaining the base word, the affix, and how the meaning changes. 

  • The class can discuss other examples of affixes and how understanding them helps with reading comprehension.

Equity and Access:

Provide pre-built templates with simple animations for students who need additional support. Pair students of varying skill levels to encourage collaboration and peer learning.

Real-World Application:

Explain how understanding affixes is important for expanding vocabulary and improving reading skills. In everyday life, recognizing affixes helps with understanding new words in contexts like reading directions, contracts, or instructions.

CS Practice(s):

• Creating Computational Artifacts: Students create animations that show how adding an affix changes the meaning of a word.

• Recognizing and Defining Computational Problems: Students decompose word meaning and model the effects of affixes in visual representations.

Standard(s):

• CA CCSS.ELA-Literacy.3.L.4.c

• CA CS K-2.AP.12

• CA CS K-2.AP.12

• CA CS K-2.AP.17