Understand the etymological function of a dictionary
Introduction Explain to the class that the words we use today have come to us from all sorts of places and languages and that they will use dictionaries to find out not what words mean but where they originally came from.
Introduce the word 'etymology' as the study of the origins of words. (You may wish to ensure everyone can pronounce it properly too!)
Highlight the word "marathon". Ask the class if they know how this word came into use.
It comes from the story of Greek hero Pheidippides, who ran the 26 miles to Athens from the Plains of Marathon to tell of the Greek victory over the Persian army.
'Kangaroo' - is it really Aboriginal for 'I don't know'?
Display the word 'kangaroo'. Ask the class if they know how this word came about.
It comes from the ancient Australian Aboriginal word 'gangurru'.
(Some people believe that 'kangaroo' is an Aboriginal word that means 'I don't know'. When he first arrived in Australia, Captain Cook asked what the unusual jumping creature was and received the reply 'kangaroo' or 'I don't know'.)
Fact File
Etymology of 'alligator'
'Alligator' was originally a Latin word 'lacertus'
This became the Spanish words for 'the lizard' which is 'el lagarto'
This then became known as 'alligator' in English
Also highlight the word 'alligator' and ask the class if they can guess how this word came about.
Give out good quality dictionaries and ask the class to find the words 'kangaroo' and 'alligator' and their etymologies.
Etymology images
