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English lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 30 minutes

Advanced prefixes: ante-, hyper-, hypo-, pseudo-, retro-…

Vocabulary

CCSS L.9-10.4.BEngland: GCSE English Language (vocabulary)England: SAT Reading and Writing (Words in Context)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Advanced prefixes: ante-, hyper-, hypo-, pseudo-, retro-….

  • 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: What prefixes mean: pre-, sub-, inter-, trans- and more; Decoding advanced words from their roots

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

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 (What prefixes mean: pre-, sub-, inter-, trans- and more; Decoding advanced words from their roots). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What does the prefix "de" mean? (as in deactivate, defrost, decode) (remove or reverse / out / after / before) → remove or reversePrompt: What do the example words have in common?
  2. Which word contains a prefix that means "half"? (superstar / defrost / semicolon / prepay) → semicolonPrompt: Split each word into parts. Which part could mean "half"?
  3. These words share a prefix that means "against". Type it. antisocial, antivirus, antifreeze → antiPrompt: Look for the letters that appear in every 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: Advanced prefixes: ante-, hyper-, hypo-, pseudo-, retro-…. 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 the prefix "hypo" mean? (as in hypothermia, hypodermic, hypothesis)
  • Step 1: Knowing what a prefix means helps you work out unfamiliar words that contain it.
  • Step 2: hypo means "under, below", as in hypothermia, hypodermic, hypothesis.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: under, below
  • Answer: under, below
  • 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 the prefix "pseudo" mean? (as in pseudonym, pseudoscience) (outside / backwards / before / false) → falsePrompt: What do the example words have in common?
  2. Which word contains a prefix that means "equal"? (hypersensitive / synthesis / circumnavigate / equilibrium) → equilibriumPrompt: Split each word into parts. Which part could mean "equal"?

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. These words share a prefix that means "around". Type it. circumnavigate, circumstance, circumference → circumPrompt: Look for the letters that appear in every word.
  2. Which word contains a prefix that means "equal"? (anteroom / equilibrium / extracurricular / intravenous) → equilibriumPrompt: Split each word into parts. Which part could mean "equal"?

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: What prefixes mean: pre-, sub-, inter-, trans- and more.
  • 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

  • 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-10.

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

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Advanced prefixes: ante-, hyper-, hypo-, pseudo-, retro-…

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    These words share a prefix that means "beyond, extremely". Type it. ultrasound, ultramarathon, ultraviolet

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    What does the prefix "dys" mean? (as in dysfunctional, dystopia, dyslexia)

    • A. false
    • B. equal
    • C. backwards
    • D. bad, difficult

  3. Question 3

    Which word contains a prefix that means "under, below"?

    • A. pseudonym
    • B. hypersensitive
    • C. hypothesis
    • D. intravenous

  4. Question 4

    These words share a prefix that means "within". Type it. intramural, intravenous, intranet

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    What does the prefix "pseudo" mean? (as in pseudoscience, pseudonym)

    • A. false
    • B. outside
    • C. over, too much
    • D. beyond, extremely

  6. Question 6

    Which word contains a prefix that means "backwards"?

    • A. hyperactive
    • B. dystopia
    • C. retrofit
    • D. ultrasound

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Answer key: Advanced prefixes: ante-, hyper-, hypo-, pseudo-, retro-…

  1. 1. ultra

  2. 2. D. bad, difficult

  3. 3. C. hypothesis

  4. 4. intra

  5. 5. A. false

  6. 6. C. retrofit