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English lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes

Opposites with il-, im-, ir- and in- (illegal, impossible, irregular)

Spelling

CCSS L.4.4.BCCSS L.4.2.DEngland: Y3/4 Spelling (prefixes il-, im-, ir-, in-)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Opposites with il-, im-, ir- and in- (illegal, impossible, irregular).

  • 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: Spell words with dis-, mis-, in- and re-

Leads to: -able or -ible? The root-word test (enjoyable, possible); Verb prefixes de-, dis-, mis-, over- and re-

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 (Spell words with dis-, mis-, in- and re-). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Join the prefix and the root word. Type the new word. dis + agree → disagreePrompt: Write the prefix, then the whole root word straight after it.
  2. Which spelling is correct? (disapoint / disappiont / disappoint) → disappointPrompt: Say the word slowly and listen for the tricky part.
  3. Which prefix makes a real word with this meaning? not correct: ___correct (dis / mis / in / re) → inPrompt: dis- and in- often mean 'not' or 'the opposite'. mis- means 'wrongly'. re- means 'again'.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a word spelled two ways and ask which looks right, then why.
  • Share the objective: Opposites with il-, im-, ir- and in- (illegal, impossible, irregular). 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: Which prefix makes the opposite of "regular"?
  • Step 1: All four mean 'not'. Use il- before l, ir- before r, im- before m or p, and in- before most other letters. Keep every letter, so you often get a double letter (il + legal).
  • Step 2: ir + regular = irregular
  • Step 3: So the answer is: ir
  • Answer: ir
  • 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. Which prefix makes the opposite of "legible"? (il / im / ir / in) → ilPrompt: Look at the first letter of the root word.
  2. Type the opposite of "mortal" using il-, im-, ir- or in-. → immortalPrompt: Which letter does the word start with?

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. Which spelling is correct? (iresponsible / irresponsible / inresponsible) → irresponsiblePrompt: Say the word slowly and listen for the tricky part.
  2. Which prefix makes the opposite of "complete"? (il / im / ir / in) → inPrompt: Look at the first letter of 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: Spell words with dis-, mis-, in- and re-.
  • 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: -able or -ible? The root-word test (enjoyable, possible); Verb prefixes de-, dis-, mis-, over- and re-.
  • 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-4.

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

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Opposites with il-, im-, ir- and in- (illegal, impossible, irregular)

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which spelling is correct?

    • A. inmortal
    • B. imortal
    • C. immortal

  2. Question 2

    Which prefix makes the opposite of "patient"?

    • A. il
    • B. im
    • C. ir
    • D. in

  3. Question 3

    Type the opposite of "polite" using il-, im-, ir- or in-.

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    Which prefix makes the opposite of "relevant"?

    • A. il
    • B. im
    • C. ir
    • D. in

  5. Question 5

    Type the opposite of "legible" using il-, im-, ir- or in-.

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    Which prefix makes the opposite of "possible"?

    • A. il
    • B. im
    • C. ir
    • D. in

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Answer key: Opposites with il-, im-, ir- and in- (illegal, impossible, irregular)

  1. 1. C. immortal

  2. 2. B. im

  3. 3. impolite

  4. 4. C. ir

  5. 5. illegible

  6. 6. B. im