The worksheet titled "Exploring Root Words: A Word Find-Style Activity" starts by listing four word roots for students to learn. Each one is accompanied by what the word root means, plus two example words. One example is the word root "proto." It means first, and the two examples are "protoplasm" and "prototype."

There is a small word bank before the activity is organized into strips. Each strip includes two lines of jumbled-up letters with directions on how to find the answer on the left. For example, the directions might say, "Word with the root: phos." Students look at the word bank and find the word that answers the question (phosphorus). Then, they circle the word in each line of jumbled-up letters. To help students get started, a few answers are bolded in two different strips so they can see how to do it.

By learning about word roots, students can decode the meaning of new words they don't know. It can also help with spelling, as word roots are always spelled the same way. Students can learn new root words and practice their spelling skills by using word find-style puzzles.

You can use a regular word find where students search for all the words that contain the same root word. You can add more of a challenge by creating mini-puzzles where students find the answer to a prompt in just a few lines of jumbled-up letters instead of an entire grid of letters. For example, students may have to "find a word with the root: di" (dilemma) and circle it. You can include a word bank to make it a little easier. If you want to add a challenge, choose a tricky series of letters (like d e l u m m e d i l e m m a).