English lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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.
- Join the prefix and the root word. Type the new word. dis + connect → disconnectPrompt: Write the prefix, then the whole root word straight after it.
- Which spelling is correct? (missspell / misspell / mispell) → misspellPrompt: Say the word slowly and listen for the tricky part.
- Which prefix makes a real word with this meaning? put in the wrong place: ___place (dis / mis / in / re) → misPrompt: dis- and in- often mean 'not' or 'the opposite'. mis- means 'wrongly'. re- means 'again'.
Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 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.
- Which prefix makes the opposite of "mature"? (il / im / ir / in) → imPrompt: Look at the first letter of the root word.
- Type the opposite of "responsible" using il-, im-, ir- or in-. → irresponsiblePrompt: Which letter does the word start with?
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 prefix makes the opposite of "correct"? (il / im / ir / in) → inPrompt: Look at the first letter of the root word.
- Which spelling is correct? (immortal / immortel / inmortal) → immortalPrompt: Say the word slowly and listen for the tricky part.
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