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English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes

What does the prefix mean? (mis-, over-, non-, pre-, dis-)

Vocabulary

CCSS L.3.4.BCCSS RF.3.3.AEngland: Y3/4 Vocabulary (prefixes)England: Y3 GPS (prefixes)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: What does the prefix mean? (mis-, over-, non-, pre-, dis-).

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Prefixes un-, re- and pre- change the meaning

Leads to: Prefixes sub-, inter-, super-, anti- and auto-; Greek and Latin word parts: tele, graph, port, aqua, scope

Materials: Word cards, A thesaurus or dictionary, A short text with the target words, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Prefixes un-, re- and pre- change the meaning). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What does "unfair" mean? (not fair / fair again / fair before / very fair) → not fairPrompt: Find the prefix at the start of the word.
  2. Which word fits? Use the clue in brackets. It is ___ to leave your bike out in the rain. (not wise) (prewise / rewise / unwise) → unwisePrompt: Read the clue in brackets.
  3. What does "unwrap" mean? (wrap neatly / wrap again / do the opposite of wrap / wrap before) → do the opposite of wrapPrompt: Find the prefix at the start of the word.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
  • Share the objective: What does the prefix mean? (mis-, over-, non-, pre-, dis-). Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: What does "overjoyed" mean?
  • Step 1: The meaning of the prefix + the meaning of the root = the meaning of the word.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: extremely happy
  • Answer: extremely happy
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. What does "nonstop" mean? (stop wrongly / without stopping / stop too much / stop again) → without stoppingPrompt: Split the word into prefix + root.
  2. Use the clue in brackets. Which word fits? My soup went cold, so I had to ___ it. (heat it again) (misheat / preheat / reheat) → reheatPrompt: Read the clue in brackets.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Type the new word. Add a prefix to "load" to make a word that means "load too much". → overloadPrompt: Which prefix has that meaning?
  2. What does "overflow" mean? (flow over the top / flow again / not flow / flow before) → flow over the topPrompt: Split the word into prefix + root.

Watch out for

  • Picking a "bigger" synonym that doesn't fit the meaning.
  • Ignoring the clues in the rest of the sentence.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Prefixes un-, re- and pre- change the meaning.
  • Use concrete materials: word cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Prefixes sub-, inter-, super-, anti- and auto-; Greek and Latin word parts: tele, graph, port, aqua, scope.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-3.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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What does the prefix mean? (mis-, over-, non-, pre-, dis-)

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Use the clue in brackets. Which word fits? Unplug the tablet to ___ it from the charger. (undo the connection)

    • A. reconnect
    • B. misconnect
    • C. disconnect

  2. Question 2

    What does "disconnect" mean?

    • A. connect before
    • B. connect again
    • C. undo the connection
    • D. connect too much

  3. Question 3

    Type the new word. Add a prefix to "sleep" to make a word that means "sleep too long".

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    Use the clue in brackets. Which word fits? I ___ the answer, so I lost a point. (read it wrongly)

    • A. preread
    • B. misread
    • C. reread

  5. Question 5

    What does "overflow" mean?

    • A. not flow
    • B. flow before
    • C. flow again
    • D. flow over the top

  6. Question 6

    Type the new word. Add a prefix to "behave" to make a word that means "behave badly".

    Answer

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Answer key: What does the prefix mean? (mis-, over-, non-, pre-, dis-)

  1. 1. C. disconnect

  2. 2. C. undo the connection

  3. 3. oversleep

  4. 4. B. misread

  5. 5. D. flow over the top

  6. 6. misbehave