POWER UP – contains examples of the concept and/or strategies introduced.

 SCIENCE CONCEPT
 15 samples (first 5 = PREFIX & SUFFIX, second 5 = PREFIX only, third 5 = SUFFIX
only)

Examples – PREFIX & SUFFIX:

1. MICROSCOPE – a device used to examine small objects.
 When the first microscope was created and scientists needed a name for
the new invention, they combined the prefix micro, which means small,
and the suffix scope, which means examine.
2. HERBIVORE – an animal or organism that has a diet of only plants.
 We know this because the prefix is herb, which means plant, and the suffix
is vore, which means to devour or swallow.
3. THERMOMETER – we use this device to measure how hot or cold something is.
 The prefix thermo means heat and the suffix meter means to measure and
so together, the word means “to measure heat”.
4. PHOTOSYNTHESIS – the process by which green plants and certain other organisms
transform light energy to chemical energy.
 The prefix is derived from the Greek word photo which means light, and
the suffix synthesis, also a Greek word means putting together or making.
These two words put together means “making from light”.
5. BIOLOGY – is the scientific study of life.
 The word biology comes from the Greek words Bios and Logos. The
prefix bio, which means life, and the suffix logo/logy, which means study
of. Combined together, the word means “the study of life”.

Root words – PREFIX:

Prefix Meaning Word (example with
definition)
Macro- large MACROSCOPIC – visible to
the naked eye.
Amphi- both sides AMPHIBIAN – are small
vertebrates that need water, or
a moist environment, to
survive.
Strat- layer STRATOSPHERE – is a layer
of Earth's atmosphere. It is
the second layer of the
atmosphere as you go
upward.
Tri- three TRIPOD – A laboratory
tripod is a three-legged
platform used to support
flasks and beakers.
Kine- move KINETIC – something
relating to or caused by
motion.

Root words – SUFFIX:

Suffix Meaning Word (example with
definition)
-cule very small MOLECULE – is the smallest
unit of a compound, which
consists of atoms bonded
together in a unique
arrangement.
-ist one who studies/practices SCIENTIST – is a person
who conducts scientific
research to advance
knowledge in an area of
interest.
-ment action or process EXPERIMENT – is a
procedure carried out to
support or refute a
hypothesis, or determine the
efficacy or likelihood of
something previously untried.
-ize to make SYNTHESIZE – the
composition or combination
of parts or elements so as to
form a whole.
-tude state of AMPLITUDE – in physics,
the maximum displacement
or distance moved by a point
on a vibrating body or wave
measured from its
equilibrium position.
POWER ON – which contains the guided exercises to enhance the skill.
 Scientific Prefixes and Suffixes

The vocabulary in biology may seem difficult to understand at times. The following list gives
the meaning of prefixes, suffixes, and roots that are commonly used to form scientific terms.
Whenever you find a new term in your study of biology, break it apart into suffixes, prefixes, and
roots. Try to find these parts in the list below.
 I. Directions: Define the following terms using your prefix-suffix list. Underline the
prefix and/or suffix in each biological term.
Example: Thermometer – therm/thermo means heat & meter means measure of so thermometer
is an instrument used to measure heat.
1. biology -
2. osteocyte -
3. epidermis -
4. polysaccharide -
5. intracellular -
6. hypodermic -
7. monosaccharide -
8. omnivore -
9. prokaryote -
10. autotroph -
11. pseudopod -
12. macronucleus -
13. protozoa -
14. carnivore -
15. polysaccharide -

II. Using your prefix-suffix list, writ the biological term for each of the following.
Example: A bacteria killer – cide means killer so the term is bactericide.
1. outside skeleton -
2. outside of the cell -
3. a one-celled organism -
4. a term describing an organism made up of many cells -
5. study of animals -
6. a carbohydrate with two sugar units -
7. a meat eater -
8. an instrument to observe small items -
9. white cell -
10. middle layer of the leaf -
11. study of form -
12. green leaf -
13. person that studies cells -
14. study of blood and blood disorders -
15. a general term that describes a common skin irritation -