Helping children become familiar with common root words helps them figure out the meanings of unfamiliar words. Here is a game that teachers and parents can use to help from ReadWriteThink called Make-a-Word Card Game:
http://www.readwritethink.org/parent-afterschool-resources/printouts/make-word-card-game-30249.html
The Online Etymology Dictionary http://www.etymonline.com/index.php is a great resource for understanding what words meant and how they sounded in years past.
