Prefix Suffix Lesson Plan

Introduction (5 min) 🎬

Engage students with a provocative question: "How can knowing just a small part of a word change its meaning completely?" Show a short, animated video illustrating the impact of prefixes and suffixes on word meanings.

Teacher Note

Choose a video that is visually engaging and age-appropriate. Ensure it includes examples that are relevant and easy to understand for 5th graders.

Present New Material (10 min) 📚

Use the interactive whiteboard to introduce common prefixes (un-, re-, pre-) and suffixes (-ful, -less, -ly). Provide examples and use storytelling to show how these change meanings (e.g., "happy" vs. "unhappy").

Teacher Note

Use colorful visuals and animations to make the presentation more engaging. Relate the examples to students' everyday experiences.

Core Questions

"What do you think happens to the meaning of the word when we add 'un-' to 'happy'?" "Can you think of other words that start with 're-'?"

Guided Practice (10 min) 🤝

Distribute prefix and suffix flashcards. In pairs, students create new words by combining flashcards and share them with the class. Provide immediate feedback and correct any misunderstandings.

Teacher Note

Walk around the room to monitor student pairs and offer assistance as needed. Encourage students to be creative and think of fun and unusual word combinations.

Individual Practice (10 min) ✏️

Hand out worksheets with sentences missing prefixes or suffixes. Students fill in the blanks and then share their answers with a partner for peer review.

Teacher Note

Ensure the sentences on the worksheets are varied and contextually rich to challenge students' understanding. Provide a few examples to get them started.

Core Questions

"How does adding '-less' to 'hope' change its meaning?" "What prefix can you add to 'view' to mean 'to see again'?"

Assessment and Reflection (10 min) 📝

Conduct a quick quiz using tablets or computers where students match words to the correct prefixes and suffixes. Follow this with a reflection activity where students write in their journals about what they learned and how they can use prefixes and suffixes in their writing.

Teacher Note

Use a quiz platform that provides immediate feedback. For the reflection, prompt students with questions like "What was the most surprising thing you learned today?"

Formative Assessment

Look for correct matches in the quiz and thoughtful reflections in journals. Check for understanding of how prefixes and suffixes alter word meanings.

Review and Closure (10 min) 🏁

Use chart paper and markers to create a class poster of new words learned. Discuss real-world applications and how understanding prefixes and suffixes can improve reading comprehension and communication. End with a group activity where students use sticky notes to write down a prefix or suffix and stick it to a matching root word on the board.

Teacher Note

Encourage students to think of words they encounter in their daily lives. Highlight the importance of prefixes and suffixes in understanding new vocabulary.

Core Questions

"How can knowing prefixes and suffixes help you understand new words you read?" "Can you think of a time when knowing a prefix or suffix helped you understand something better?"