Illustration of person spinning the "Wheel of Luck"
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 December 2024 / January 2025 Issue
Featured Skill: Vocabulary and Grammar,
Standards
  • Common Core
    Anchor Standards: L.4, L.5, L.6 Grade 4: L.4.4, L.4.5, L.4.6 Grade 5: L.5.4, L.5.5, L.5.6 Grade 6: L.6.4, L.6.5, L.6.6
  • TEKS
    Grade 4: 4.3 Grade 5: 5.3 Grade 6: 6.2

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One Word, 3 Ways    

Look how this unlucky kid uses the word of the issue, chance.

Lance Lekander

I thought this was my chance to win big.

I needed my money for the bus home, but I decided to chance playing.

Now a chance breeze has left me with a goldfish and a long walk home.

Chance can mean:

  • an opportunity  
  • to take a risk on something 
  • unplanned; happening unexpectedly

Wild Word Challenge!

The word chance 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 form. That means shape. Can you figure out the meaning of each orange word below? 

Lance Lekander

Lexie: This block of clay is waiting for me to transform it into something beautiful.

Lexie: As a nonconformist, I plan to create something unique.

Lexie: Perhaps it’s a malformed teapot?

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.

Contest Winner!

This issue’s word root was suggested by

Zaian Shurukchiev
DeMasi Elementary School
Marlton, New Jersey

This article was originally published in the December 2024/January 2025 issue.

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