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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 "retell" mean? (tell before / tell again / tell quietly / not tell) → tell againPrompt: Find the prefix at the start of the word.
  2. Which word fits? Use the clue in brackets. My drawing got wet, so I had to ___ it. (draw it again) (undraw / redraw / predraw) → redrawPrompt: Read the clue in brackets.
  3. What does "unlock" mean? (lock again / lock tightly / do the opposite of lock / lock before) → do the opposite of lockPrompt: 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 "precut" mean? (cut wrongly / cut before / not cut / cut again) → cut beforePrompt: Split the word into prefix + root.
  2. Use the clue in brackets. Which word fits? My soup went cold, so I had to ___ it. (heat it again) (misheat / reheat / preheat) → reheatPrompt: 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. Use the clue in brackets. Which word fits? The bath will ___ if you leave the tap running. (flow over the top) (reflow / overflow / misflow) → overflowPrompt: Read the clue in brackets.
  2. Type the new word. Add a prefix to "heat" to make a word that means "heat before". → preheatPrompt: 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/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Type the new word. Add a prefix to "behave" to make a word that means "behave badly".

    Answer

  2. Question 2

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

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

  3. Question 3

    What does "overflow" mean?

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

  4. Question 4

    Type the new word. Add a prefix to "like" to make a word that means "not like".

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    Use the clue in brackets. Which word fits? The film was ___ action from start to finish. (without stopping)

    • A. misstop
    • B. nonstop
    • C. restop

  6. Question 6

    What does "reheat" mean?

    • A. heat again
    • B. heat wrongly
    • C. not heat
    • D. heat too much

  7. Question 7

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

    Answer

  8. Question 8

    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. misbehave

  2. 2. C. preheat

  3. 3. C. flow over the top

  4. 4. dislike

  5. 5. B. nonstop

  6. 6. A. heat again

  7. 7. preview

  8. 8. B. overflow