English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 45 minutes
What does the suffix mean? (-less, -ful, -able, -er, -ness)
Vocabulary
CCSS L.3.4.BCCSS RF.3.3.AEngland: Y3/4 Vocabulary (suffixes)England: Y3 GPS (suffixes)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: What does the suffix mean? (-less, -ful, -able, -er, -ness).
- 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: Suffixes -ment, -ness, -ful, -less, -ly; Prefixes un-, re- and pre- change the meaning
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 · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Suffixes -ment, -ness, -ful, -less, -ly; 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.
- Choose the word with the right suffix to finish the sentence. The ___ of the old castle walls made us gasp. (thick) (thickly / thickness / thickment / thickful) → thicknessPrompt: Read the sentence with each choice.
- What does "replay" mean? (play again / not play / play badly / play before) → play againPrompt: Find the prefix at the start of the word.
- Which word fits? Use the clue in brackets. The oven needs to ___ before the cake goes in. (heat before) (preheat / reheat / unheat) → preheatPrompt: Read the clue in brackets.
Hook · 5 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 suffix mean? (-less, -ful, -able, -er, -ness). Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: What does "painless" mean?
- Step 1: A suffix at the end of a word changes its meaning, and often its word class.
- Step 2: So the answer is: without pain
- Answer: without pain
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 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 "swimmer" mean? (without swimming / able to swim / a person who swims / full of water) → a person who swimsPrompt: Cover the suffix. What is the root word?
- Which suffix do you need? Make "farm" mean "a person who farms". (-ful / -able / -er / -ness) → -erPrompt: Look at the meaning you want.
You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Which suffix do you need? Make "sing" mean "a person who sings". (-less / -ful / -er / -ness) → -erPrompt: Look at the meaning you want.
- Use a suffix to make one word with this meaning. Type it. without a sound → soundlessPrompt: Find the root word inside the 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: Suffixes -ment, -ness, -ful, -less, -ly.
- 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-3.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder