text: have you ever tried using etymology to teach elementary children vocabulary? is the use of etymology too difficult for elementary school children?  does it work?  any studies done on this? it's sort of an abstract concept for kids to grasp, but it's not out of the question.  it totally helped me by recognizing cognates in my spanish classes.  i understood english better that way.    i've taught my students (3rd grade) prefixes & suffixes, and they catch on to that with relative ease.    if studies haven't been done, i might start my own next year.  :)