Multisensory Monday: Root Word Therm Thermometer

Posted by Tammi Brandon on 2nd Jun 2019

This week’s multisensory activity provides an example of a quick craft an older student might enjoy to practice the root word Therm. Although I was a lower elementary school teacher for several years, I have always enjoyed working with middle and high school students. For me, it has always been easy to develop activities that appeal to younger students. Those same activities, when presented to older students, sometimes incite eye rolls and groans. However, multisensory activities are of crucial importance to the older, struggling reader. Older students seem to enjoy card games, board games, and Bingo, but they often enjoy quick crafts as well.

What Does the Root Word "Therm" Mean?

The root word "therm" comes from the Greek word "thermos," which means "heat." It’s the base of many words related to temperature, warmth, or heat. Understanding this root helps early learners recognize patterns in language, making it easier to decode unfamiliar words. Whether you’re measuring the temperature with a thermometer or adjusting the heat with a thermostat, the root "therm" gives clues to the meaning of these words.

Root "Therm" Multisensory Activity

Materials needed:

Cardstock or construction paper
Drawing utensil
Scissors
Tape or glue

Setting up the activity:

Give students a piece of card stock or construction paper.
Instruct students to draw a large thermometer on it by drawing a circle at the bottom of the page and a long, skinny rectangle stretching from the top of the circle upwards. Students can then make measurement marks along the side of the rectangle.
Students will cut two small slits on the thermometer; one at the top and one at the bottom of the rectangle they just drew. These rectangles should be narrow enough to slide through the slits made on the thermometer.
Students will tape or glue these rectangles together to make one long piece.
Then, slide the two-colored rectangle through the slits on the thermometer and tape the ends together, forming a loop.

The teacher may now say words with the root word Therm in them. Each time a word with “Therm” is heard, students will slide the red part of their thermometer up one marking.