1/02/12
A VAST TERRAIN FOR STUDENTS TO EXPLORE
A long time ago, I became especially interested in the root "terra." The more I thought about it and researched it, the more interesting it became. The list of related words grew longer and longer, and I'm still discovering more words connected to it. I think you and your students will enjoy exploring this broad root.
Start them off with ATVs, All Terrain Vehicles, and UTVs (Utility Terrain Vehicles), and specially designed cars or motorcycles with names such as Prairie, Polaris, Grizzly, Raptor, Wolverine, and Teryx. What do these names tell us about an ATV? Ask students to download at least one image of these vehicles.
Your first mental thoughts probably turn to tearing along on curving roads and racing though back-country settings. But have you thought of an ATV as being an amphibious vehicle?
Take a look at http://www.terrawind.com/hydraterra.htm and http://www.sealegs.com/.
Who could have imagined land vehicles becoming water vessels, too? The Internet describes many more amphibious vehicles.
Can your students connect terrace, terrapin, terrarium, terrier, extraterrestrial and subterranean to the terra root? What about these Latin terms, terra firma and terra incognita? Why was the city in Indiana given the French name Terra Haute? Can anyone decipher Viniterra? (Answer: Wine territory)
Now, in one week's time, how many adjectives can your students add to slippery, rocky, and unfriendly terrain? Fill in the blanks with these words:
______________________, ______________________, ______________________,
______________________, ______________________, ______________________,
______________________, ______________________, ______________________.
Please send me the results of your classes' terrain experiences!
That's my word this time.
Ellie
