Procedure Guide: WORD ORIGIN CHART

Purpose: To encourage students' interest in words through the words' histories.

Preparation

• Design a focal wall, possibly with a world map, for words to be posted by country or origin.

Before

• Explain the purpose of the activity.

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• Model the use of a dictionary to determine the etymology of interesting words.

During

• Have students collect and compile a list of interesting or unusual words as they read for assignments and pleasure.

After

• Have students research each word's origin and write the word and the country of origin on an index card.

• Post the cards by their country of origin on the focal wall.

Assessment

Accuracy of origin cards