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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.
  1. Choose the word with the right suffix to finish the sentence. We were ___ to our grandma for the gift. (thank) (thankment / thankful / thankness / thankless) → thankfulPrompt: Read the sentence with each choice.
  2. What does "preschool" mean? (school again / a school for teachers / the school before big school / not school) → the school before big schoolPrompt: Find the prefix at the start of the word.
  3. Which word fits? Use the clue in brackets. It is ___ to leave your bike out in the rain. (not wise) (prewise / rewise / unwise) → unwisePrompt: 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.
  1. What does "breakable" mean? (able to be broken / a person who breaks things / without breaking / full of breaks) → able to be brokenPrompt: Cover the suffix. What is the root word?
  2. 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.
  1. Use a suffix to make one word with this meaning. Type it. able to be washed → washablePrompt: Find the root word inside the meaning.
  2. What does "kindness" mean? (a person who is kind / without kindness / the quality of being kind / able to be kind) → the quality of being kindPrompt: Cover the suffix. What is the root word?

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

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What does the suffix mean? (-less, -ful, -able, -er, -ness)

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    What does "fearless" mean?

    • A. without fear
    • B. able to fear
    • C. a person who fears
    • D. full of fear

  2. Question 2

    Which suffix do you need? Make "fold" mean "able to be folded".

    • A. -less
    • B. -ful
    • C. -able
    • D. -er

  3. Question 3

    Use a suffix to make one word with this meaning. Type it. without a home

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    What does "washable" mean?

    • A. full of washing
    • B. a person who washes
    • C. able to be washed
    • D. without washing

  5. Question 5

    Which suffix do you need? Make "enjoy" mean "able to be enjoyed".

    • A. -ful
    • B. -able
    • C. -er
    • D. -ness

  6. Question 6

    Use a suffix to make one word with this meaning. Type it. the state of being happy (careful: y changes to i)

    Answer

  7. Question 7

    What does "painless" mean?

    • A. full of pain
    • B. able to hurt
    • C. a person in pain
    • D. without pain

  8. Question 8

    Which suffix do you need? Make "farm" mean "a person who farms".

    • A. -ful
    • B. -able
    • C. -er
    • D. -ness

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Answer key: What does the suffix mean? (-less, -ful, -able, -er, -ness)

  1. 1. A. without fear

  2. 2. C. -able

  3. 3. homeless

  4. 4. C. able to be washed

  5. 5. B. -able

  6. 6. happiness

  7. 7. D. without pain

  8. 8. C. -er