English lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 60 minutes
Advanced prefixes: ante-, hyper-, hypo-, pseudo-, retro-…
Vocabulary
CCSS L.9-10.4.BEngland: GCSE English Language (vocabulary)England: SAT Reading and Writing (Words in Context)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Advanced prefixes: ante-, hyper-, hypo-, pseudo-, retro-….
- 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 prefixes mean: pre-, sub-, inter-, trans- and more; Decoding advanced words from their roots
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 · 6 min
- 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.
- What does the prefix "anti" mean? (as in antiseptic, antisocial, antifreeze) (against / half / wrongly / after) → againstPrompt: What do the example words have in common?
- Which word contains a prefix that means "between"? (exhale / subtitle / interact / misplace) → interactPrompt: Split each word into parts. Which part could mean "between"?
- These words share a prefix that means "above, beyond". Type it. superstar, supersonic, superhuman → superPrompt: Look for the letters that appear in every word.
Hook · 6 min
- 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.
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 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.
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.
- What does the prefix "circum" mean? (as in circumnavigate, circumference, circumstance) (outside / against / around / beyond, extremely) → aroundPrompt: What do the example words have in common?
- Which word contains a prefix that means "backwards"? (retrospect / antenatal / contradict / dyslexia) → retrospectPrompt: Split each word into parts. Which part could mean "backwards"?
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.
- These words share a prefix that means "false". Type it. pseudonym, pseudoscience → pseudoPrompt: Look for the letters that appear in every word.
- Which word contains a prefix that means "backwards"? (contrast / retrograde / ultramarathon / hypodermic) → retrogradePrompt: Split each word into parts. Which part could mean "backwards"?
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 prefixes mean: pre-, sub-, inter-, trans- and more.
- 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-10.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder