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English lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 60 minutes

Prefixes sub-, inter-, super-, anti- and auto-

Vocabulary

CCSS L.4.4.BEngland: Y3/4 Spelling (prefixes sub-, inter-, super-, anti-, auto-)England: Y3/4 Vocabulary

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Prefixes sub-, inter-, super-, anti- and auto-.

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

Leads to: Greek and Latin word parts: tele, graph, port, aqua, scope; Make verbs with -ify, -ise/-ize, -ate and -en; Verb prefixes de-, dis-, mis-, over- and re-

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 · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (What does the prefix mean? (mis-, over-, non-, pre-, dis-)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What does "mislabel" mean? (label wrongly / label before / label too much / label again) → label wronglyPrompt: 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) (misflow / reflow / overflow) → overflowPrompt: Read the clue in brackets.
  3. Type the new word. Add a prefix to "heat" to make a word that means "heat before". → preheatPrompt: Which prefix has that meaning?

Hook · 6 min

  • Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
  • Share the objective: Prefixes sub-, inter-, super-, anti- and auto-. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: What does "submarine" mean?
  • Step 1: These prefixes come from Latin (sub-, inter-, super-) and Greek (anti-, auto-).
  • Step 2: So the answer is: a ship that travels under the sea
  • Answer: a ship that travels under the sea
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 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 "supersonic" mean? (slower than sound / under the sound / faster than the speed of sound / against noise) → faster than the speed of soundPrompt: Find the prefix and think about what it means.
  2. Which prefix completes the word? ___septic (fights against germs) (inter / super / anti / auto) → antiPrompt: Read the clue in brackets.

You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. What does "superstore" mean? (a shop between towns / a shop that runs itself / a shop under the ground / a very large shop) → a very large shopPrompt: Find the prefix and think about what it means.
  2. Which prefix completes the word? ___septic (fights against germs) (inter / super / anti / auto) → antiPrompt: 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: What does the prefix mean? (mis-, over-, non-, pre-, dis-).
  • 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: Greek and Latin word parts: tele, graph, port, aqua, scope; Make verbs with -ify, -ise/-ize, -ate and -en; 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

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Prefixes sub-, inter-, super-, anti- and auto-

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which prefix completes the word? ___septic (fights against germs)

    • A. inter
    • B. super
    • C. anti
    • D. auto

  2. Question 2

    What does "intercity" mean?

    • A. between cities
    • B. against a city
    • C. under a city
    • D. above a city

  3. Question 3

    What does "interact" mean?

    • A. act against something
    • B. act under someone
    • C. act with each other
    • D. act by yourself

  4. Question 4

    Which prefix completes the word? ___tract (take away from under)

    • A. sub
    • B. super
    • C. anti
    • D. auto

  5. Question 5

    What does "antiseptic" mean?

    • A. a liquid that cleans itself
    • B. a liquid under the skin
    • C. a liquid full of germs
    • D. a liquid that works against germs

  6. Question 6

    Which prefix completes the word? ___national (between countries)

    • A. sub
    • B. inter
    • C. super
    • D. anti

  7. Question 7

    What does "superhero" mean?

    • A. a hero between two teams
    • B. a hero who fights against heroes
    • C. a hero with powers far beyond normal
    • D. a hero who works underground

  8. Question 8

    Which prefix completes the word? ___clockwise (against the clock's direction, UK)

    • A. sub
    • B. inter
    • C. anti
    • D. auto

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Answer key: Prefixes sub-, inter-, super-, anti- and auto-

  1. 1. C. anti

  2. 2. A. between cities

  3. 3. C. act with each other

  4. 4. A. sub

  5. 5. D. a liquid that works against germs

  6. 6. B. inter

  7. 7. C. a hero with powers far beyond normal

  8. 8. C. anti