Function~Content
Language of Origin
Relatives
Homophones
Place Value
Letter Meaning
100
After this week, there will be no school!
<know> or <no>
Which one is the function word?
No is the function word. Function words take the smallest spelling possible.
100
Do you like my <razor> scooter?
What letters in <razor> tell you this word is Latin?
<or> is a latin suffix whereas <er> is the Germanic form.
100
Every summer my family goes camping.
Why is <goes> not spelled <goze>?
Because the base is <go> and -ze is NOT a suffix AND -es carries the correct sense and meaning in <goes>.
wash + es-->washes
go + es --> goes
100
This summer you want to do a lemonade stand.
Do you sell lemonade or cell lemonade?
Bonus 100: Which spelling of /s/ is default?
its cell jk sell
Bonus: sell
100
I LOVE summer time!!!!
What letter in the spelling of <love> is driven by place value?
The replaceable <e> is driven by place value. It must be there because <v> does not end a complete English word.
100
I would like to eat twelve strawberries twice a day until I am twenty!
What letter meaning does <tw> have?
<tw> denotes two!
200
I am going to miss some of my friends from school this summer.
Is <miss>a function or a content word?
<miss> is a content word. It can be drawn or defined. It also has a content word (lexical) spelling because the <s> is doubled.
200
why does the word <bicycle> have a <y> in the middle?
The vowel <y> in the middle of <cycle> is a sign of Greek origin.
.
200
My parents *said I could have a sleep-over.
In the word <said> the <ai> has a relationship to <ay>. What word with an <ay> is closely related to <said>?
say
200
It's almost summer.......
<brake> or <break>?
Bonus 100: which uses a default spelling?
break
Bonus 100: brake is the default spelling
200
This summer, I hope to catch some waves!
What about the spelling of <catch> is constrained by place value?
tch typically follows a single letter lax vowel and is final to a base.
200
When we're hiking, we use dryer sheets to keep the gnats away!
What letter meaning does the <gn> in gnat have?
<gn> denotes "chewing or biting"
300
The last one out the school doors is a rotten egg!
Why does egg have two <g>'s?
Egg is a content word and content words must have at least 3 letters. An additional <g> is added to give egg three letters.
300
What grapheme(s) are driven by a Greek word origin in the following word:
school :)
The <ch> spelling /k/ in <school> is a sign of a Greek origin.
300
My dog *says hi by barking.
Why isn't <says> spelled *sez?
Bonus 100: what is the word sum for <says>?
<says> has the base<say> but has a reduced vowel pronunciation because it is reporting function. Spelling is MEANING FIRST!
Bonus: say + s
300
I am going to make s'mores by the campfire! Would you like ___?
<sum> or <some>
Bonus 100: Which homophone uses a default spelling?
some
Bonus: <sum> is the default spelling
300
At camp this summer, I get to stay in a lodge.
What constraint on place value does a <dg(e)> have?
dg(e) can only follow a single-letter lax vowel.
It is also typically final to a base.
300
Dad says I can't wrestle my brother in my nice clothes because they could get wrinkled.
What letter meaning does the <wr> in wrestle and wrinkle have?
< wr > has a sense of twisting.
400
I have my eye on a new bike!
<I> or <eye>
Which is the function word?
<I> is the function word. Function words take the smallest spelling possible.
400
"We can have a sleepover and stay up all night!"
What language of origin is driving the spelling in of the word <night>.
<igh> is a marker of Old English origin.
400
My parents said we <might> go on a special trip!
The <igh> in might marks its relationship to <ay>. What word with an <ay> spelling is related to <might>?
may! As in, we may go on a special trip.
400
You ask you parents for a new bed.
How do you ask:
<would> you please get me new bed? or <wood> you please get me new bed?
would
400
At camp when the mosquitos start swarming, you tell them to "buzz off"!
What do the words <buzz> and <off> have in common when it comes to place value?
The letters f, l, s, and z are all doubled at the end after a single-letter lax vowel in a content word.
400
I make whipped cream by whipping heavy cream in a bowl.
What letter meaning does <wh> carry?
< wh > denotes "blowing, a blow, a brisk movement"
500
I have a lot of exciting plans for the summer!
What marks the spelling of <have> as a content word.
The <e> in <have> is needed because no complete English word ends in <v>. Only content words use replaceable <e>'s.
500
In 1887 the word <pennyfarther> was coined for a bike with a big front wheel and small back wheel.
What is the reason for the <y> in the middle of the word <pennyfarther>?
its an old English compound-word
penny + farther ==> pennyfarther
compound-words don't follow suffix addition patterns
500
I bet that by the end of the summer my height will change.
In the word <height> the <igh> is producing the sound [aI] and the <e> is an etymological marker.
What word does the <e> mark its relationship to?
weight! In the word <weight> the <igh> is the marker and the <e> is producing the sound [eI].
500
It's time for ice cream and you get to pick your flavor!
<Which> one would you like? or <Witch> one would you like?
<which>
500
How does the constraint of place value determine whether to use a: c, k, or ck in the following word?
<kick>
<k> must be used at the start because the next letter is an <i>.
<ck> marks a single lax vowel.
500
That knight just knocked my knee with the knot in his rope!
What letter meaning does the <kn> have?
<kn> denotes a protuberance or can be imitative of a sound (ie.knock).