Illustration of students looking at aquatic life at an aquarium
Illustrations by Lance Lekander
Vocab Lab,

One Word, 3 Ways / Root Power!

Weird, Wild, and Wonderful Words

photo of della herden
By Della Herden
From the September 2024 Issue
Featured Skill: Vocabulary and Grammar,

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One Word, 3 Ways  

Look how this colorful kid uses the word of the issue, clash. 

Lance Lekander

At band practice, I got into a clash with the flute player.

She said my clothes clash. But I think my outfit looks great!

I felt better after I made a loud clash with my cymbals.

Clash can mean:

  • a strong disagreement or nasty encounter  
  • to not match well
  • a loud sound made by two metal objects hitting each other  

Wild Word Challenge!

The word clash appears in this issue’s poem. Can you find it and determine which meaning is used there?

Root Power! 

Meet Lexie! She time traveled from the ancient world and landed in Storyworks. Lexie loves words—especially ones with Greek and Latin roots. Today she’s using words with the Latin root aqua. That means water. Can you figure out the meaning of each orange word below?

Lance Lekander

Lexie: I love visiting the aquarium and seeing all the underwater life.

Lexie: In the gift shop, I bought posters of my favorite aquatic animals.

Lexie: They’ll look great in my aquamarine bedroom.

Courtesy of family

Caleb Smith

Saddle Ridge Elementary and Middle School

Rock Spring, Georgia

 

Contest winner Caleb suggested this issue’s word root.

Write to Win

What root should Lexie use next? Find three words that contain the same Greek or Latin root of your choice. Then write a sentence for each word (or create a comic that features your words). Entries must be submitted to “Root Power Contest” by a teacher, parent, or legal guardian.* Students whose entries are chosen for a future issue will receive a prize!

*Entries must be written by a student in grades 2-8 and submitted by their teacher, parent, or legal guardian, who will be the entrant and must be a legal resident of the U.S. age 18 or older. Visit the Storyworks Contests page for more information

This article was originally published in the September 2024 issue.

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