AC9EFLY15 • Foundation English

words as units of meaning

I can understand that a word has meaning and can sometimes contain more than one meaningful part.

Topic GuideClassroom ViewWorksheetPracticeTest
Key vocabulary
  • word — a spoken or written unit that carries meaning
  • meaningful part — a part of a word that contributes meaning
  • base word — the main word that carries the central meaning
  • plural — a word form that can show more than one
  • compound word — a word made by joining two complete words
  • ending — a meaningful part added at the end of a word
Key concept

I can understand that a word has meaning and can sometimes contain more than one meaningful part.

Learning goal: I can understand that a word has meaning and can sometimes contain more than one meaningful part.

I am ready when I can

  • I can treat a word as a meaning unit.
  • I can find a familiar base word.
  • I can explain a plural ending.
  • I can build a familiar compound word.
  • I can explain how every identified part contributes meaning.
See it, then try it

See the skill in action

Worked-model method: say the word, split meaningful parts and explain each meaning.

1. Compare a picture of one dog with the printed word dog and a picture of several dogs with the printed word dogs.2. Keep the meaningful part dog, which names the animal, and notice the added letter s at the end.3. Explain that the added part tells us there is more than one dog.

Model answer: Dogs has two meaningful parts: dog names the animal and the added s shows more than one.

Worked example: build the compound word sunhat

Worked-model method: say the word, split meaningful parts and explain each meaning.

1. Read two picture-word cards: sun and hat.2. Join the two complete meaning units to make the printed word sunhat.3. Explain that sun tells the condition or use and hat names the object worn on the head.

Model answer: Sunhat combines two meaningful words to name a hat worn for protection in sunny conditions.

See the skill in action

Worked-model method: say the word, split meaningful parts and explain each meaning.

1. Compare a picture of one dog with the printed word dog and a picture of several dogs with the printed word dogs.2. Keep the meaningful part dog, which names the animal, and notice the added letter s at the end.3. Explain that the added part tells us there is more than one dog.

Model answer: Dogs has two meaningful parts: dog names the animal and the added s shows more than one.

Worked example: build the compound word sunhat

Worked-model method: say the word, split meaningful parts and explain each meaning.

1. Read two picture-word cards: sun and hat.2. Join the two complete meaning units to make the printed word sunhat.3. Explain that sun tells the condition or use and hat names the object worn on the head.

Model answer: Sunhat combines two meaningful words to name a hat worn for protection in sunny conditions.

Australian Curriculum elaborations

E1: Find meaningful parts in a word

A word can contain a base that carries the central meaning and an added part that contributes extra meaning, as dog and s work together in dogs.

Think: Match dog with a picture of one dog and dogs with a picture of several dogs. Cover the final s and identify the base word dog. Reveal s and explain that this added part signals more than one in this example.

Try: What meaning stays in the base word, and what extra meaning does the added part contribute?

A strong answer: Match the whole word to its picture meaning, separate the base and ending or two complete words, rebuild it and explain each part's meaning.

Check: The learner separates dog and s as two meaningful parts and explains the contribution of each to the whole word dogs.

If you are stuck: Use one-dog and several-dogs picture cards, then physically join the printed base card dog and ending card s.

Common misconceptions
  • Every letter is a separate meaningful part — Ask whether the part contributes a stable meaning, rather than splitting the word at every letter.
  • A word can be cut anywhere — Use picture or sentence meaning to find a base word or two complete words that make sense.
  • An added ending changes the whole base meaning — State the base meaning first, then explain only the extra meaning the ending adds.
Explain and apply

Find the base meaning

Compare dog and dogs. What meaning stays in both words?

Answer and teaching guidance

Dog remains the base meaning. The added s changes number, not the animal meaning.

Add more-than-one

Make cup mean more than one by adding the ending s.

Answer and teaching guidance

Cups keeps the base cup and adds an ending that means more than one.

Split a compound

Split raincoat into two complete words and explain how the meanings work together.

Answer and teaching guidance

Rain and coat are meaningful parts. Together they name a coat used for rainy weather.

Correct the split

A learner says every letter in dogs is a meaningful part. How would you fix that?

Answer and teaching guidance

Dogs is one whole word with the base dog and the ending s. Individual letters help spell the word but are not each separate meanings.

Try these
  1. One or more — Match pictures of one object and several objects with a base word and its plural form.
    cat → cats • cup → cups
  2. Word-part build — Join picture-word cards to make a familiar compound word and explain both parts.
    sun + hat • rain + coat
  3. Meaning detective — Underline the base word, circle the added part and say what changed in the meaning.
    whole word → base meaning → added meaning
Check your understanding

Quick checks

  • What does the word ‘dog’ do?
  • In ‘dogs’, what does the added s tell us?
  • How many meaningful parts are in ‘dogs’ for this example?
  • Which word means more than one cat?

Mastery evidence

  • What does the word ‘dog’ do?
  • In ‘dogs’, what does the added s tell us?
  • How many meaningful parts are in ‘dogs’ for this example?
  • Which word means more than one cat?
  • The learner separates dog and s as two meaningful parts and explains the contribution of each to the whole word dogs.
Resources
Open Classroom ViewPrintable WorksheetPracticeTest
🎥 Optional Video Lesson

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Back to the lesson

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Recommended: It's fun to make 2 words 1 | Version 1 | Compound Words

Jack Hartmann Kids Music Channel — Hearing how two meaningful words can join to make one new word.

As you watch: What two smaller words can you hear inside the new word?

Load video player Loads YouTube in this lesson. See the video notice below.

Try it: Say rain and bow, then rainbow. Draw what each smaller word means and what the joined word means.

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