Classroom · Grammar · 5th grade

Greek and Latin roots worksheets

A free five-page pack: learn the rule with pictures, then sort words, find them in sentences and use them in writing, with an answer key.

Download the greek and latin roots pack(5 pages, color)Ink saver (B&W)

Watch it solved

51 sec · with voice and captions

A pencil works one example of each activity, so you can see how the worksheet goes before you print it. Tap a step to jump to it. The rest of the sheet is left for your child to finish.

Read what the video says

0:00 Let's practice greek and latin roots, step by step.
0:04 Many words come from Greek and Latin roots. Knowing a root helps you work out a word: tele means far, aqua means water, graph means write. For example: We used a telescope and a microscope at the science fair.
0:18 Look and say: telephone, aquarium, geography.
0:23 Read each word, and write it in the right box. Telescope goes in the tele, meaning far box.
0:30 Read each sentence. Circle the word with a Greek or Latin root. We saw stars through a telescope.
0:37 Use the roots. Write the word from the box that matches each meaning. See far away is telescope
0:44 Great job! Now print the free worksheet, and finish the rest on your own.

The rule

Many words come from Greek and Latin roots. Knowing a root helps you work out a word: tele means far, aqua means water, graph means write.

We used a telescope and a microscope at the science fair.

Look and say

telephonetele = far
aquariumaqua = water
geographygeo = earth
microscopemicro = small
biologybio = life
transportport = carry
autographgraph = write
photographphoto = light

Try some

We saw stars through a telescope.Show answer

Fish swim in the aquarium.Show answer

The speaker used a microphone.Show answer

My laptop is portable.Show answer

I got the author's autograph.Show answer

We study maps in geography.Show answer

Plants are part of biology.Show answer

We watched the game on television.Show answer

Find the words in each sentence, then tap to check.

What the worksheets look like

Greek and Latin roots worksheet, page 1 — Page 1: learn the rule

Greek and Latin roots worksheet, page 2 — Page 2: sort the words

Common questions

What are greek and latin roots?

Many words come from Greek and Latin roots. Knowing a root helps you work out a word: tele means far, aqua means water, graph means write.

How do I teach greek and latin roots?

Start a root wall. Each time children meet a word with a root they know, they add it under the root. Seeing telephone, telescope and television together makes the meaning of tele stick.

What mistake should I watch for?

Stopping at the root. A root is a clue, not the whole meaning: telephone is far plus sound (phone), so children should put the parts together and check the meaning in the sentence.

What grade learns greek and latin roots?

Usually 5th grade. In the Common Core it is part of L.5.4b.