Science Word Lab

Middle school science vocabulary can be overwhelming for students—many terms are multisyllabic, highly specialized, and rooted in Greek and Latin. Teaching students the morphemes (roots, prefixes, and suffixes) that form these words gives them tools to unlock meaning, even when they’ve never seen a word before.

Learning morphemes helps students:

• Build confidence when approaching complex science terms.
• Recognize patterns across Earth & Space, Life, and Physical Science.
• Develop decoding strategies for new vocabulary in any unit.
• Strengthen content-area literacy and comprehension.
• Create connections across scientific concepts, strengthening retention.

Over the course of the year, a student who internalizes even 30–60 high-value science morphemes can decode hundreds of science vocabulary words.

This resource includes word wall cards featuring morphemes for Earth & Space, Life, and Physical Science (in two sizes), presentations in Google Slides and Powerpoint formats, and student cards in both sets and 4 of the same to a page. Also included is a suggested weekly routine for incorporating this resource into your science class! 5 minutes a day will provide massive impact for your students.