1. PREFIXES,
SUFFIXES &
ROOTS
?’s By: Amanda Montello

2. Lesson Plan and Objective
 Subject – 4 Grade Language Arts
th
 Title of Lesson - Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots
 Objective – The students will be able to define and identify prefixes, suffixes, and roots
to determine the meaning of words.
Standards for 4th grade Language Arts:
3.4AV7: Identify the meaning of prefixes, suffixes, and roots and their various forms to determine
meaning of words.
1.2WC2-4: Spell high frequency words, plurals, and inflectional endings, contractions, roots, suffixes and
prefixes correctly.
 Procedures – Introduce prefixes and suffixes with the power point on prefixes and suffixes.
 Discuss the definition of a prefix. Ask the students “Where do prefixes appear?” Then following the
power point, give examples of prefixes and the meanings.
 Show students examples of sentences that contain the prefixes that were discussed.
 Discuss the definition of a suffix. Ask the students “Where do suffixes appear?” Then following the
power point, give examples of suffixes and the meanings.
 Show students examples of sentences that contain the suffixes that were discussed.
 Discuss root words and give a few examples.
 See how many words students can create given specific prefixes and suffixes
 Show the video of the rap song on prefixes, suffixes, and roots
 Evaluation - After the students go through the Power Point and do the activity, have
then complete the interactive quiz
 Materials - Prefix and Suffix Power Point, Computer, Prefix and Suffix song, Pencils,
Paper

3. Why are we learning this? What is the
purpose of this presentation?
 After the presentation you will be able to define
what prefixes, suffixes, and roots are, and also be
able to identify the meaning of common prefixes
and suffixes.
 In addition, you will be able to identify different
prefixes, suffixes, and roots in sentences and use
the context of those sentences to help you figure
out the meaning.
 Finally, at the end of the presentation you should
be able to understand that prefixes and suffixes
change the meaning of words. This Power Point
will help you become confident in identifying and
using prefixes and suffixes in your reading and
writing.

4. WHAT IS A PREFIX?
A prefix is a letter or sequence of
letters attached to the beginning
of a word, root, or phrase to
change its meaning

5. EXAMPLES OF PREFIXES
Dis- not, do the opposite of
Re- again
Mis- wrong
Post- after
Pre- before, in front of

6. EXAMPLES OF SENTENCES
I hope they don’t discontinue my favorite
flavor of ice cream?
 The teacher made the students redo their
homework because they had the wrong
answers.
 The boy felt misunderstood.
 The baseball players had a postgame
interview.
 The students took a pretest to prepare
them for the real one.

7. SUFFIX
A Suffix is a letter or sequence of
letters that may be added to the end
of a word, root, or phrase to change
its meaning

8. EXAMPLES OF SUFFIXES
able, ible- able to, capable of
ful- full of
or- one who does something
less- without

9. EXAMPLES OF SENTENCES
 The kids were not allowed to play ball in the
house because there were so many breakable
items.
 The girl was careful not to scare her fish
when cleaning its tank.
 The editor fixed all of the mistakes the writer
made.
 The search for the treasure seemed endless.

10. ROOTS = WORDS LEFT WHEN YOU TAKE
AWAY PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES
 We make new words from root words by
adding prefixes and suffixes
 For example, we can add the prefix BI to the
root word CYCLE to form the word Bicycle
OR
 We can add the suffix ING to the root word
EXAMINE to form the word Examining
 Can anyone give me an example?

11. Examples of sentences
Can you give me an example of a
sentence containing the prefix DIS?
How about the prefix UN?
Can you give me an example of a
sentence containing the suffix OR?
How about the prefix ABLE?

12. Start looking for
prefixes and suffixes
in the books you are
reading! They are
EVERYWHERE!
Keep a list and look
up what they mean so
you can share them
with the class!

13. CHALLENGE
 Seehow many words you can
create using the following prefixes
and suffixes:
Prefixes: Dis , Re, Mis
Suffixes: able, less, or

14. Song about
Prefixes, Suffixes
& Roots!

15. Resources
Callella,T., Carolea, W., & Rous, S. (2004). Prefixes
and suffixes: Teaching vocabulary to improve reading
comprehension. New York, NY: Creative Teaching
Press.
Frymire, D. (2009). Prefixes, suffixes, & roots rap.
Retrieved September 28, 2012 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOJrjNR7ZZM
Pulver, R., & Reed, L. R. (2011). Happy endings: A
story about suffixes. New York: Holiday House.

Other Resources
http://eps.schoolspecialty.com/downloads/articles/Prefix-Suff

16. Testing your
Knowledge!
 Quiz Time! The following questions are over the
concepts we just learned in this PowerPoint. Do
your best to answer them correctly.
Question 1
Question 2
Question 3

17. Question 1
What is a prefix and where does it
appear?
A letter or sequence of letters that may be added to both
the beginning and end of a word, root, or phrase to
change its meaning
A letter or sequence of letters that may be added to the
end of a word, root, or phrase to change its meaning
A letter or sequence of letters attached to the beginning
of a word, root, or phrase to change its meaning

18. GREAT JOB!
 You answered this question correctly:
A prefix is…. a letter or sequence of letters
attached to the beginning of a word, root, or
phrase to change its meaning
Question 2

19. Try Again
 Please review the following information by
clicking on the picture below, and then try to
answer the question again.

20. Question 2
In the following sentence, identify the meaning of
the suffix:
The search for the treasure seemed endless.
With
Never ending
Without

21. Great Job!
 You answered this question correctly:
The suffix in the sentence is less- and the meaning
of the suffix is without
Question 3

22. Try Again
 Please review the following information by
clicking on the picture below, and then try to
answer the question again.

23. Question 3
How many root words appear in the following
sentence?
The careless little girl hit the trashcan with her
tricycle because she was busy examining the ice
cream truck.
Two
Three
Four

24. Great Job!
 You answered this question correctly:
The three root words in the following sentence
include: care, cycle, and examine
The careless little girl hit the trashcan with her
tricycle because she was busy examining the ice
cream truck.

25. Try Again
 Please review the following information by
clicking on the picture below, and then try to
answer the question again.

26. You are finished
with the Quiz!