Prefixes and Suffixes

Introduction:

Welcome back, word magicians! Today, we’re going to discover secret codes that can change the meaning of words. These codes are called prefixes and suffixes. They’re like little word-changers that we can add to the beginning or end of a word to give it a whole new meaning!

Part 1: Prefixes – The Word-Changers at the Beginning

• A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a word.
• Prefixes can change the meaning of the word completely.
• Let’s look at some common prefixes and their meanings:

Prefix	Meaning	Example	New Word Meaning
un-	not, opposite of	happy	unhappy
re-	again, back	do	redo
pre-	before	view	preview
dis-	not, opposite of	like	dislike
mis-	wrongly	understand	misunderstand

Activity: Prefix Power

• I’ll give you a word.
• Add a prefix to the word to change its meaning.
• Can you use the new word in a sentence?

Example:

• Word: tie
• Prefix: un-
• New Word: untie
• Sentence: I need to untie my shoelaces.

Part 2: Suffixes – The Word-Changers at the End

• A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a word.
• Suffixes can change the word’s part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb).
• Let’s look at some common suffixes and how they change words:

Suffix	Meaning	Example	New Word Meaning
-ly	in a certain way (adverb)	quick	quickly
-ful	full of (adjective)	care	careful
-less	without (adjective)	hope	hopeless
-er	someone who does (noun)	teach	teacher
-ness	state of being (noun)	happy	happiness

Activity: Suffix Scramble

• Unscramble the letters to form words with the given suffixes:

1. y l p a h – (happily)
2. l u f e s u – (useful)
3. r e h c a t – (teacher)
4. s e n d k – (kindness)

Part 3: Reading and Writing with Prefixes and Suffixes

• Now, let’s use our new word-changing skills to read and write sentences.

Activity: Prefix and Suffix Stories

• I’ll give you a sentence with a missing word.
• Use a prefix or suffix to complete the word and make the sentence make sense.

Example:

• The magician made the rabbit _____. (disappear)

Wrap-up:

• Prefixes and suffixes are powerful tools for transforming words!
• Remember, prefixes go at the beginning, and suffixes go at the end.
• Keep practicing to unlock the full potential of prefixes and suffixes and expand your vocabulary!

Homework:

• Find five words with prefixes and five words with suffixes.
• Write a sentence using each word.

Additional Tips for Teachers:

• Create flashcards with prefixes and suffixes and their meanings.
• Play games like “Prefix/Suffix Bingo” or “Word Building Challenge.”
• Use online resources and quizzes for additional practice.
• Encourage students to identify prefixes and suffixes in everyday words they encounter.

Let me know if you have any other questions!