Theme Word Study

What do good readers do

when they come to a word
they don’t understand the
meaning of?
 Class Discussion:
What strategies can you
remember?
 Strategies you can use
• Look for the morphemes /
morphograph
• Synonyms
• Use of images
• Use of context
 Learning Goal:
Using morphology to determine the
meaning of unknown words
 Learning Goal:
Using morphology to determine the
meaning of unknown words
 geography
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geography
geo: earth
graph: writing
y: made up of
 geography
Definition: The study of places and the relationships between people
and their environments.

Example: The quirky climatic conditions are caused by the town’s local
geography.
 How has the meaning of
Word Prefix Suffix New word
the word changed?

a person who
geography er geographer
practices geography
geography A way of describing a
characteristic of a
ic geographic particular region
(the geographical
features of Adelaide)
geography adjective relating to
ic+al geographical
geographical
environment
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 environment
en = within
environ = surrounding or encircle
ment = state of action
 environment
Definition: surroundings or condition in which a person, animal or
plant lives.

Example: We must respect our environment.

 How has the meaning of
Word Prefix Suffix New word
the word changed?

The concern and

protection of the
environment al environmental natural world of land,
sea, plants and
animals.
environmentalist A person who is
concerned with
ist environmentalist
protecting the
environment
vegetation
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 vegetation
Vegetare = (Origin – latin to enliven)
= growth
tion = state of
 vegetation
Definition: the plant life of a place

Example: Living animals leapt all around my boots and then, as the
vegetation got thicker and higher, they were in my face and around my
head.
 How has the meaning of
Word Prefix Suffix New word
the word changed?

The act of growing a

vegetation ing vegetating
plant
vegetation The act of being concern
ive vegetative
with plant growth

vegetation adjective relating to

al vegetational
vegetation
biodiversity
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 biodiversity
Shortened from two words - biological diversity
bio = life
Diverse = many / different
ity = quality of
 biodiversity
Definition: the existence of a wide variety of plant and animal species
living in their natural environment.

Example: It is hoped the creation of the garden would encourage

wildlife and biodiversity.
 How has the meaning of
Word Prefix Suffix New word
the word changed?

Adjective describing
biodiversity ity biodiverse an area with a high
(removed)
level of biodiversity
conservation
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conservation
Conserve = to keep, preserve
tion = state of
 conservation
Definition: The protection and careful management of natural
resources of the environment

Example: Zoos do important work in conservation such as breeding

programmes and education.
 How has the meaning of
Word Prefix Suffix New word
the word changed?

Adjective relating to
conservation al conservational
conservation
conserve to protect from harm
conservation removed
(base word) or destruction (verb)
a person who
conservation ist conservationist advocates for or acts
on conservation
escarpment
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 escarpment
escarp: (Italian scarpa) to cut
ment: the result of an action
 escarpment
Definition: A long continuous steep ridge formed by erosion

Example: The river flows down from the Adelaide Hills and forms an
escarpment.
 How has the meaning of
Word Prefix Suffix New word
the word changed?

Plural form of
escarpment s escarpments
escarpment
Verb – past tense
escarp ed escarped To cause or form a steep
slope
Verb – present
escarp ing escarping
continuous tense