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Subject: English
Semester: 2
Period: 6
Week: 31
School Name:
Teacher’s Name:
Subject: English Language
Grade Level: Grade 6
Date: Week 31
Lesson Duration: 45 minutes
Week & Period: Week 31, Period 6
Topic: Vocabulary Development
Sub-topic: Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes (Part 1)
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
Define root words, prefixes, and suffixes
Identify and form new words using common prefixes and suffixes
Understand how affixes change the meaning or function of a word
Previous Knowledge
Students already know basic vocabulary and simple word formation
Instructional Materials
English Language textbook for Grade 6, flashcards, whiteboard, markers
Lesson Development – ABC Model
A – Anticipation (Warm-up / Starter)
Time: 5–10 minutes
Ask learners to list words they know that start with “un-” or end with “-ful” and discuss their meanings
B – Building Knowledge (Main Lesson Body)
Time: 25–30 minutes
- Teacher Explanation & Modelling (10–12 minutes)
🔍 What are Root Words?
- Definition: A root word is the base word that carries the main meaning. It can stand alone or be the foundation for other words.
- Example root words: happy, care, teach, move, write
- Explain that root words are like the “core” or “heart” of a word.
➕ What are Prefixes?
- Definition: A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a root word to change its meaning.
- Prefixes do not change the part of speech of the word; they just modify the meaning.
- Common prefixes with examples:
- un- (not): happy → unhappy (not happy)
- re- (again): write → rewrite (write again)
- dis- (opposite or not): connect → disconnect (not connected)
- pre- (before): view → preview (view before)
- mis- (wrongly): lead → mislead (lead wrongly)
➕ What are Suffixes?
- Definition: A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a root word to change its meaning or function (its grammatical role).
- Suffixes can change a word’s part of speech (e.g., verb → noun, adjective → adverb).
- Common suffixes with examples:
- -ful (full of): help → helpful (full of help)
- -less (without): care → careless (without care)
- -ment (result of an action): enjoy → enjoyment (the act/result of enjoying)
- -ness (state or quality): kind → kindness (state of being kind)
- -able (capable of): read → readable (capable of being read)
📝 Example Word Formation
|
Root Word |
Prefix Added |
New Word |
Meaning of New Word |
Suffix Added |
New Word |
Meaning of New Word |
|
happy |
un- |
unhappy |
not happy |
-ness |
happiness |
state of being happy |
|
write |
re- |
rewrite |
write again |
-able |
readable |
capable of being read |
|
care |
dis- |
discard* |
reject, throw away (prefix dis- + root discard from Latin, but illustrates dis- prefix use) |
-less |
careless |
without care |
|
teach |
pre- |
preteach* (less common, but can mean teach beforehand) |
-ment |
treatment* |
the act of treating (not related to root teach, but demonstrates suffix -ment) |
*Note: Some words are for illustration only to show the affixation process; always choose familiar words for learners.
🗣️ Modelling Sentences with New Words
- She was unhappy about the test results.
- Please rewrite your essay to improve it.
- He acted carelessly and broke the vase.
- The movie was enjoyable and fun to watch.
- Her kindness helped everyone feel welcome.
- Learners’ Activities (Expanded – 15–18 minutes)
🔤 Activity 1: Identify Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes
- Provide a list of mixed words (with prefixes and suffixes) on the board or handout, for example:
- unhappy, careless, rewrite, kindness, preview, enjoyable
- Learners work individually or in pairs to:
- Underline the root word in each word
- Circle the prefix if there is one
- Highlight the suffix if there is one
Example answer for “unhappy”:
- Root: happy
- Prefix: un-
- No suffix
🏗️ Activity 2: Form New Words
- Give learners a set of root words and a list of prefixes and suffixes separately.
- In groups, learners combine root words with prefixes or suffixes to make new words. For example:
- Root: care + prefix dis- = discare (not a word, so reject) or suffix -less = careless
- Root: move + suffix -ment = movement
- Root: play + prefix re- = replay
- Challenge learners to write down at least 5 new words they create.
✍️ Activity 3: Use New Words in Sentences
- Each learner chooses 3 newly formed words and writes simple sentences demonstrating their meanings.
- Examples:
- I felt unhappy when I lost my toy.
- The teacher asked me to rewrite my story.
- Her kindness made everyone smile.
🎤 Activity 4: Oral Sharing
- Learners take turns sharing their sentences aloud with the class or in small groups.
- Encourage the use of clear pronunciation and correct meaning.
- Assessment Checks
- Observe learners’ ability to:
- Correctly identify root words, prefixes, and suffixes during Activity 1
- Form valid new words by combining affixes and root words
- Use the newly formed words correctly in sentences
- Express meaning clearly during oral sharing
- Collect learners’ written sentences to check for accuracy in spelling, grammar, and word meaning
- Provide immediate feedback and clarification as needed
- Notes (Expanded & Detailed)
- Prefixes change the meaning of the base word but usually do not change its grammatical category (e.g., verb remains verb, adjective remains adjective).
- Example: happy (adjective) → unhappy (adjective)
- Suffixes can change both meaning and grammatical function:
- teach (verb) → teacher (noun) by adding suffix -er (not covered in examples but useful to mention)
- kind (adjective) → kindness (noun) by adding suffix -ness
- Understanding word formation allows learners to:
- Decode unfamiliar words by identifying parts
- Expand vocabulary effectively
- Improve spelling and writing through awareness of patterns
- Encourage learners to use dictionaries or word lists to explore more prefixes and suffixes.
- Remind learners that some words may have more than one prefix or suffix (compound affixes) but start with simple ones first.
- Extension and Reinforcement Ideas
- Create a word wall in the classroom with root words and their possible prefixes/suffixes.
- Play a word formation game: learners take turns adding prefixes or suffixes to root words and explaining meanings.
- Assign homework: find 5 words with prefixes and suffixes in newspapers, books, or online, and write sentences.
C – Consolidation (Conclusion & Assessment)
Time: 5–10 minutes
Summary: Learners can identify root words and affixes, form new words, and use them in sentences
Evaluation Method (Expanded):
Exit slip/quiz: Write two words using a prefix and two using a suffix
Teacher will collect slips and provide oral feedback
Assignment (Expanded):
Create a list of 10 new words using prefixes and suffixes learned today and use each in a sentence
Follow-up Activity:
Play a word-building game in pairs using root words and affixes
Differentiation / Inclusive Strategies
Provide simplified root word lists for struggling learners, allow peer support for sentence construction
Teacher’s Reflection (After Class)
What worked well? ___________________________________________
What needs improvement? ____________________________________
Students’ engagement level: ☑ High ☑ Medium ☑ Low