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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 "pre" mean? (as in prehistoric, precaution, prepay) (against / before / half / across) → beforePrompt: What do the example words have in common?
  2. Which word contains a prefix that means "above, beyond"? (translate / intercept / supersonic / coauthor) → supersonicPrompt: Split each word into parts. Which part could mean "above, beyond"?
  3. These words share a prefix that means "under". Type it. subtitle, submerge, subway → subPrompt: 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 "dys" mean? (as in dyslexia, dysfunctional, dystopia) (around / outside / backwards / bad, difficult) → bad, difficultPrompt: What do the example words have in common?
  2. Which word contains a prefix that means "over, too much"? (contrast / hypersensitive / retrofit / dyslexia) → hypersensitivePrompt: Split each word into parts. Which part could mean "over, too much"?

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 "bad, difficult". Type it. dysfunctional, dyslexia, dystopia → dysPrompt: Look for the letters that appear in every word.
  2. What does the prefix "ultra" mean? (as in ultrasound, ultramarathon, ultraviolet) (beyond, extremely / backwards / under, below / bad, difficult) → beyond, extremelyPrompt: What do the example words have in common?

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

    What does the prefix "equi" mean? (as in equilibrium, equivalent, equidistant)

    • A. equal
    • B. around
    • C. before
    • D. backwards

  2. Question 2

    These words share a prefix that means "bad, difficult". Type it. dystopia, dysfunctional, dyslexia

    Answer

  3. Question 3

    Which word contains a prefix that means "around"?

    • A. circumference
    • B. pseudonym
    • C. retrospect
    • D. equidistant

  4. Question 4

    What does the prefix "hyper" mean? (as in hyperactive, hypersensitive, hyperbole)

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

  5. Question 5

    These words share a prefix that means "against". Type it. contradict, contrast, contraband

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    Which word contains a prefix that means "false"?

    • A. synthesis
    • B. hypothesis
    • C. circumstance
    • D. pseudonym

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

  1. 1. A. equal

  2. 2. dys

  3. 3. A. circumference

  4. 4. B. over, too much

  5. 5. contra

  6. 6. D. pseudonym