Word Matrix and Word Hunt Worksheet
Generate your own Word Matrix and Word Hunt activity worksheet.
Help your students master word construction and improve vocabulary with customizable Word Matrix and Word Hunt activity worksheets. These are perfect for teaching and reinforcing morphology, to help students visualize how words are constructed from prefixes, roots, and suffixes. They are most used with late elementary and middle school students, but can be introduced with younger students as well.
What is Morphology?
Morphology is the study of words, including the principles by which they are formed, and how they relate to one another within a language. In Morphology, we study morphemes,the smallest units of words, and how they are combined to form new words.
What are Morphemes?
Morphemes are the smallest units of words, and are composed of prefixes, roots, and suffixes. For example, the word "submits" is composed of the prefix "sub", the root "mit", and the suffix "s".
What is a Word Matrix
A Word Matrix is a visual representation of the morphemes that make up a word. It is a table that shows the prefixes, roots, and suffixes that make up a word. Word matrices combine morphology, etymology, and phonology to show the relationships between words. They are incredible tools to help understand how words are built and how they relate to one another.
For example, this image shows a comprehensive Word Matrix for the root "mit":
In the center, we have the base element: the Latin root "mit", along with its meaning "send, let go".
To its left, we can see the prefixes that can be attached to the root. For example, if we attach the first prefix "e" to "mit", we get the valid word "emit". Notice how we have a few combination prefixes as well: "re" can prefix "ad", which can prefix "mit", which, when combined, gives us "readmit".
To its right, we can see the suffixes that can be attached to the root. For example, if we attach the first suffix "s" to prefix "e" and root "mit", we get the valid word "emits". Notice how we have a few combination suffixes as well: "ed" can suffix "ly", which can suffix "mit", which, when combined with prefix "ad", gives us "admittedly".
How can I create a Word Matrix and Word Hunt activity worksheet?
Worksheet Creator makes it easy to generate custom Word Matrix and Word Hunt activity worksheets:
- Enter a list of related words (e.g., words with the root "ject" or "struct"). Enter all of the words from which the system will extract the base word, all prefixes and all suffixes
- Our AI system will automatically analyze the list of words and create the worksheet with the Word Matrix and lines for the word hunt, automatically
- Customize any morphemes that you wish to change, as well as the font used for each line
- Download and print your worksheet instantly. The first page has the worksheet, with the Word Matrix and lines for the Word Hunt activity. The second page has the answer key, listing the words that you entered to create this Word Matrix.
Other examples of Word Matrices
All of these examples were created with this template in Worksheet Creator, in under a minute each.
Example of a Word Matrix for the root real.
Example of a Word Matrix for the root script.
Example of a Word Matrix for the root vent.
Tips for creating Word Matrix Worksheets effectively
- Make sure your word list has a clear common root word
- Ensure your word list is comprehensive of all the morphemes that you want to include the matrix that's created
Can I use these activity worksheets as a part of the Structured Literacy approach?
Yes! These activity worksheets can be used as a part of the Structured Literacy approach to language instruction. Structured Literacy prepares students to decode words in an explicit and systematic manner. This approach is geared towards students with dyslexia, and there is substantial evidence that it is effective for all readers. One of the six key elements of Structured Literacy is morphology, and these worksheets are the perfect diagnostic teaching aid.
You can learn more about the Structured Literacy approach here.
Can I buy Word Matrix and Word Hunt activity worksheets that other teachers have created?
Yes! See our Word Matrix and Word Hunt activity worksheet Store, created by other teachers. You can customize your own based on any of these worksheets as well.