English lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 30 minutes
The prefix un- (unhappy, unlock)
Spelling
CCSS L.1.4.BCCSS L.2.4.BEngland: Y1 Spelling (prefix un-)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: The prefix un- (unhappy, unlock).
- 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: Adding -s, -ing, -ed and -er
Leads to: Prefixes un-, re- and pre- change the meaning
Materials: Word cards, Look-say-cover-write-check sheets, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Adding -s, -ing, -ed and -er). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which word fits? Yesterday I ___ (kick). (kicking / kicks / kicked / kick) → kickedPrompt: Look at the time word: yesterday, right now or every day.
- Which word fits? Every day she ___ (lift). (lifts / lifted / lift / lifting) → liftsPrompt: Look at the time word: yesterday, right now or every day.
- Which word fits? Yesterday I ___ (jump). (jump / jumping / jumps / jumped) → jumpedPrompt: Look at the time word: yesterday, right now or every day.
Hook · 3 min
- Show a word spelled two ways and ask which looks right, then why.
- Share the objective: The prefix un- (unhappy, unlock). 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 "unsafe" mean?
- Step 1: The prefix un- changes a word to mean 'not' or 'do the opposite'.
- Step 2: unsafe = un + safe
- Step 3: So the answer is: not safe
- Answer: not safe
- 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.
- What does "unfair" mean? (fair again / fair-haired / not fair / very fair) → not fairPrompt: Find the prefix and the root word.
- Which word makes sense? The tent was too big for the car, so we had to ___ the boxes. (unpack / untidy / pack) → unpackPrompt: Read the whole sentence first.
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.
- Which word makes sense? Mia felt ___ because she lost her favourite toy. (unhappy / happy / unlock) → unhappyPrompt: Read the whole sentence first.
- What does "unlucky" mean? (lucky again / very lucky / lucky before / not lucky) → not luckyPrompt: Find the prefix and the root word.
Watch out for
- Spelling every word exactly as it sounds.
- Learning a list for a test but not using the words in writing.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Adding -s, -ing, -ed and -er.
- 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 un-, re- and pre- change the meaning.
- 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-1.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder