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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 "rebuild" mean? (not build / build before / build again / build alone) → build againPrompt: Find the prefix at the start of the word.
  2. Which word fits? Use the clue in brackets. I could not open the box, so Dad helped me ___ the lid. (opposite of screw) (prescrew / rescrew / unscrew) → unscrewPrompt: Read the clue in brackets.
  3. What does "preheat" mean? (heat a lot / not heat / heat before / heat again) → heat beforePrompt: 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 "disconnect" mean? (undo the connection / connect before / connect too much / connect again) → undo the connectionPrompt: Split the word into prefix + root.
  2. Use the clue in brackets. Which word fits? The film was ___ action from start to finish. (without stopping) (misstop / nonstop / restop) → nonstopPrompt: 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. Use the clue in brackets. Which word fits? The film was ___ action from start to finish. (without stopping) (misstop / restop / nonstop) → nonstopPrompt: Read the clue in brackets.
  2. Type the new word. Add a prefix to "heat" to make a word that means "heat before". → preheatPrompt: Which prefix has that meaning?

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

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

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    Use the clue in brackets. Which word fits? If you ___ the cake, it will burn. (bake it too much)

    • A. overbake
    • B. rebake
    • C. prebake

  3. Question 3

    What does "nonstop" mean?

    • A. stop too much
    • B. stop again
    • C. stop wrongly
    • D. without stopping

  4. Question 4

    Type the new word. Add a prefix to "view" to make a word that means "see before".

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    Use the clue in brackets. Which word fits? I ___ the step and tripped. (judged it wrongly)

    • A. prejudged
    • B. rejudged
    • C. misjudged

  6. Question 6

    What does "disconnect" mean?

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

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

  1. 1. misbehave

  2. 2. A. overbake

  3. 3. D. without stopping

  4. 4. preview

  5. 5. C. misjudged

  6. 6. C. undo the connection