Greek & Latin Stems
Paleontologist
Project
How to Use:
Greek & Latin Stems
Paleontologist Project
This two-step project will keep your
students engaged in their learning, while
also reinforcing the idea that many words in
the English language have origins in Greek
or Latin.
For the first step, the students will examine
ten actual dinosaur names and determine
their meaning using the attached stems
guide. In the table, students will write down
the stems that are used in each dinosaur’s
name and provide the meaning. An example is
included.
The next step of the project asks the
student to use at least three Greek or
Latin stems to create their own dinosaur
name. They’ll write down the dinosaur name,
the Latin stems they used, a translation of
the name, and provide an explanation of how
they’ve named their dinosaur. There’s also
room for your student paleontologist to
draw a detailed picture of their dinosaur
creation.
This project can be used for a unique word
study station in school, or a fun at-home
assignment!
Name: _______________________
Greek & Latin Stems
Paleontologist Project
In 1842 The word ‘dinosaur’ was invented. The
word itself and it is made up of Greek stems
(deinos- fearfully great, and sauros- lizard). By
putting those stems together, it’s clear that the
word dinosaur means fearfully great lizard.
These ‘fearfully great lizards’ are named for
many different reasons. Some are named for the
place where their fossils were found, or for the
scientist who discovered that particular dinosaur.
Others are named for their physical or behavioral
descriptions. Regardless of why they’re named, all
dinosaur names are made up of Greek or Latin
roots. By deciphering these roots, you can easily
determine the meaning of a dinosaur’s name.
Use the attached Greek and Latin stems list to
translate the following dinosaur names into English
to determine their meaning.
Greek & Latin Stems
Paleontologist Project
Use the attached Greek and Latin stems list to fill in
the dinosaur name chart below.
Dinosaur Name Chart
Dinosaur Name
Example:
Ichthyosaur
Allosaurus
Apatosaurus
Brachiosaurus
Brontosaurs
Cynognathus
Oviraptor
Stegosaurus
Spinosaurus
Triceratops
Tyrannosaurus
Rex
Velociraptor
Latin/Greek
Stems
English Translation
Ichthyo, Saurus
Fish Lizard
Greek and Latin Stems List
Allo
Language of
Origin
Greek
English
Translation
Strange
Micro
Language
of Origin
Greek
English
Translation
Small
Alti
Latin
High
Neo
Latin
New
Apato
Greek
Deceptive
Ovi
Latin
Egg
Bellu
Latin
Beautiful
Peloro
Greek
Monstrous
Brachio
Greek/Latin
Arm
Penta
Greek
Five
Brachy
Greek
Short
Plateo
Greek
Flat
Bronto
Greek
Thunder
Pod
Latin
Foot
Centro
Latin
Left
Poly
Greek
Many
Cera/0
Greek
Horn
Pyro
Greek
Fire
Crypto
Greek
Hidden
Raptor
Latin
Robber
Cyno
Greek
Dog
Rex
Latin
King
Dactly
Greek
Finger
Rhinus
Greek
Snout
Di
Greek
Two
Salto
Latin
Leaping
Dino
Greek
Sarco
Greek
Flesh
Don
Greek
Tooth
Saurus
Greek
Lizard
Eu
Greek
Good
Spino
Latin
Thorn
Felis
Latin
Cat
Stego
Greek
Roof
Giga
Greek
Steno
Greek
Narrow
Gnathus
Greek
Jaw
Tetra
Greek
Four
Hydro
Greek
Water
Thallasso
Greek
Sea
Ichthyo
Greek
Fish
Tops
Greek
Face
Lana
Latin
Woolly
Tri
Greek
Three
Macro
Greek
Large
Tyranno
Greek
Tyrant
Maia
Greek
Ultra
Latin
Extreme
Mega
Greek
Veloci
Latin
Speedy
Stem
Fearfully
Great
Savage
Giant
Good
Mother
Huge
Stem
Paleontologist Challenge!
As an esteemed paleontologist you’ve discovered a
never-before seen dinosaur fossil! Based on your
knowledge of the dinosaur and Greek and Latin stems,
you’ve been tasked with giving the dinosaur an
appropriate name (make sure to use at least three
Greek or Latin stems).
In the space below, draw a picture of how the
dinosaur would have looked when it was alive and fill out
all the information on the following page in order to give
your fellow dinosaur enthusiasts more information
about your remarkable discovery.
Dinosaur Name: ________________________________________________________
Discovered by Paleontologist ____________________________________
Greek/Latin Stems Used: ___________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
English Translation: __________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Explanation of Dinosaur Name (How does the name fit the
physical attributes and behavioral traits of the
dinosaur?):
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Greek & Latin Stems
Paleontologist Project Key
Use the attached Greek and Latin stems list to fill in
the dinosaur name chart below.
Dinosaur Name Chart
Dinosaur Name
Example:
Ichthyosaur
Allosaurus
Apatosaurus
Brachiosaurus
Brontosaurs
Cynognathus
Oviraptor
Stegosaurus
Spinosaurus
Triceratops
Tyrannosaurus
Rex
Velociraptor
Latin/Greek
Stems
English Translation
Ichthyo, Saurus
Fish Lizard
Allo, Saurus
Apato, Saurus
Brachio, Saurus
Bronto, Saurus
Cyno, Gnathus
Ovi, Raptor
Stego, Saurus
Spino, Saurus
Tri, Cera, Tops
Tyranno, Saurus,
Rex
Veloci, Raptor
Strange Lizard
Deceptive Lizard
Arm Lizard
Thunder Lizard
Dog Jaw
Egg Robber
Roof Lizard
Thorn Lizard
Three Horn Face
Tyrant Lizard King
Speedy Robber
Thanks for purchasing this product- I hope
your students enjoy it as much as mine have!
Please send me a message if you have any
questions or concerns about this product.
Credits
Border: “Free Borders/Frames”
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Catherine-S
Text: “Fonts for Cover Pages- Little Piggys Cake”
__________
Clipart: “Dinosaur Clipart”
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Winchester
-Lambourne