• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (What prefixes mean: pre-, sub-, inter-, trans- and more; Decoding advanced words from their roots). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. What does the prefix "de" mean? (as in decode, deactivate, defrost) (above, beyond / against / half / remove or reverse) → remove or reversePrompt: What do the example words have in common?
2. Which word contains a prefix that means "together"? (intercept / reheat / coauthor / misplace) → coauthorPrompt: Split each word into parts. Which part could mean "together"?
3. These words share a prefix that means "before". Type it. precaution, prepay, prehistoric → prePrompt: Look for the letters that appear in every word.

• Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
• Share the objective: Advanced prefixes: ante-, hyper-, hypo-, pseudo-, retro-…. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: What does the prefix "hypo" mean? (as in hypothermia, hypodermic, hypothesis)
• Step 1: Knowing what a prefix means helps you work out unfamiliar words that contain it.
• Step 2: hypo means "under, below", as in hypothermia, hypodermic, hypothesis.
• Step 3: So the answer is: under, below
• Answer: under, below
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• 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 the prefix "retro" mean? (as in retrospect, retrograde, retrofit) (equal / against / bad, difficult / backwards) → backwardsPrompt: What do the example words have in common?
2. Which word contains a prefix that means "within"? (ultraviolet / synthesis / intranet / equivalent) → intranetPrompt: Split each word into parts. Which part could mean "within"?

• 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.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. These words share a prefix that means "under, below". Type it. hypothermia, hypodermic, hypothesis → hypoPrompt: Look for the letters that appear in every word.
2. Which word contains a prefix that means "over, too much"? (contrast / retrograde / anteroom / hypersensitive) → hypersensitivePrompt: Split each word into parts. Which part could mean "over, too much"?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-10.