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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? (build again / not build / build alone / build before) → build againPrompt: Find the prefix at the start of the word.
  2. Which word fits? Use the clue in brackets. It is ___ to leave your bike out in the rain. (not wise) (unwise / rewise / prewise) → unwisePrompt: Read the clue in brackets.
  3. What does "unfair" mean? (very fair / fair before / not fair / fair again) → not fairPrompt: 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 "prewash" mean? (wash too much / wash before / wash again / not wash) → wash beforePrompt: Split the word into prefix + root.
  2. Use the clue in brackets. Which word fits? The bath will ___ if you leave the tap running. (flow over the top) (misflow / overflow / reflow) → overflowPrompt: 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? I ___ the answer, so I lost a point. (read it wrongly) (misread / preread / reread) → misreadPrompt: Read the clue in brackets.
  2. Type the new word. Add a prefix to "like" to make a word that means "not like". → dislikePrompt: 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

    Use the clue in brackets. Which word fits? Unplug the tablet to ___ it from the charger. (undo the connection)

    • A. reconnect
    • B. disconnect
    • C. misconnect

  2. Question 2

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

    Answer

  3. Question 3

    What does "misjudge" mean?

    • A. judge before
    • B. judge wrongly
    • C. judge again
    • D. not judge

  4. Question 4

    Type the new word. Add a prefix to "sleep" to make a word that means "sleep too long".

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    What does "overcook" mean?

    • A. not cook
    • B. cook before
    • C. cook too much
    • D. cook again

  6. Question 6

    Use the clue in brackets. Which word fits? The bath will ___ if you leave the tap running. (flow over the top)

    • A. misflow
    • B. overflow
    • C. reflow

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

  1. 1. B. disconnect

  2. 2. preheat

  3. 3. B. judge wrongly

  4. 4. oversleep

  5. 5. C. cook too much

  6. 6. B. overflow