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English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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 "prepay" mean? (not pay / pay before / pay too much / pay again) → pay beforePrompt: Find the prefix at the start of the word.
  2. Which word fits? Use the clue in brackets. We watched a ___ of the new film. (a look before) (review / unview / preview) → previewPrompt: Read the clue in brackets.
  3. What does "unfair" mean? (fair again / not fair / very fair / fair before) → not fairPrompt: Find the prefix at the start of the word.

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 prefix mean? (mis-, over-, non-, pre-, dis-). 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 "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 · 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.
  1. What does "overcook" mean? (cook before / cook again / cook too much / not cook) → cook too muchPrompt: 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) (overflow / misflow / reflow) → overflowPrompt: Read the clue in brackets.

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.
  1. Type the new word. Add a prefix to "view" to make a word that means "see before". → previewPrompt: Which prefix has that meaning?
  2. Use the clue in brackets. Which word fits? I ___ the answer, so I lost a point. (read it wrongly) (reread / misread / preread) → misreadPrompt: Read the clue in brackets.

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/ 8

  1. Question 1

    What does "overflow" mean?

    • A. flow again
    • B. flow over the top
    • C. not flow
    • D. flow before

  2. Question 2

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

    Answer

  3. Question 3

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

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

  4. Question 4

    What does "overcook" mean?

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

  5. Question 5

    Type the new word. Add a prefix to "write" to make a word that means "write again".

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    Use the clue in brackets. Which word fits? If you ___ the cake, it will burn. (bake it too much)

    • A. overbake
    • B. rebake
    • C. prebake

  7. Question 7

    Type the new word. Add a prefix to "spell" to make a word that means "spell wrongly".

    Answer

  8. Question 8

    Use the clue in brackets. Which word fits? Please ___ the oven before the pizza goes in. (heat it before)

    • A. preheat
    • B. reheat
    • C. overheat

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

  1. 1. B. flow over the top

  2. 2. oversleep

  3. 3. B. disconnect

  4. 4. B. cook too much

  5. 5. rewrite

  6. 6. A. overbake

  7. 7. misspell

  8. 8. A. preheat