English lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 minutes

Prefixes un-, re- and pre- change the meaning

Vocabulary

CCSS L.2.4.BEngland: Y2 VocabularyEngland: Y3 Spelling (prefixes)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Prefixes un-, re- and pre- change the meaning.

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: The prefix un- (unhappy, unlock)

Leads to: Find the root word (unhelpful → help); Spell words with dis-, mis-, in- and re-; What does the prefix mean? (mis-, over-, non-, pre-, dis-)

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 (The prefix un- (unhappy, unlock)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

What does "unsafe" mean? (very safe / not safe / safe again / safe at home) → not safePrompt: Find the prefix and the root word.
Which word makes sense? The tent was too big for the car, so we had to ___ the boxes. (pack / untidy / unpack) → unpackPrompt: Read the whole sentence first.
Which word makes sense? The game was ___ because only one team had a ball. (untie / fair / unfair) → unfairPrompt: Read the whole sentence first.

Hook · 5 min

Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
Share the objective: Prefixes un-, re- and pre- change the meaning. 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 "replay" mean?
Step 1: A prefix is added to the start of a root word and changes its meaning.
Step 2: re + play
Step 3: So the answer is: play again
Answer: play again
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.

What does "retell" mean? (tell quietly / not tell / tell before / tell again) → tell againPrompt: Find the prefix at the start of the word.
Which word fits? Use the clue in brackets. My drawing got wet, so I had to ___ it. (draw it again) (redraw / predraw / undraw) → redrawPrompt: 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.

Which word fits? Use the clue in brackets. The game froze, so we had to ___ it. (start again) (prestart / unstart / restart) → restartPrompt: Read the clue in brackets.
What does "prepay" mean? (pay before / not pay / pay too much / pay again) → pay beforePrompt: Find the prefix at the start of the 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: The prefix un- (unhappy, unlock).
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: Find the root word (unhelpful → help); Spell words with dis-, mis-, in- and re-; What does the prefix mean? (mis-, over-, non-, pre-, dis-).
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-2.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder