Suffix Superstars: Adding to Words!

English Language Arts Grades 1st Grade 8:59 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn about suffixes and how they change the meaning of words with this fun video and activities! We'll explore suffixes like -ness, -ful, and -less.

Video Resource

Suffixes for Kids | Homeschool Pop

Homeschool Pop

Duration: 8:59
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Suffix: A word part added to the end of a word.
  • Base Word: The main part of a word before a suffix is added.
  • How suffixes change the meaning of a word.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to define a suffix and a base word.
  • Students will be able to identify the suffixes -ness, -ful, and -less in words.
  • Students will be able to explain how adding a suffix changes the meaning of a base word.
  • Students will be able to read and understand words containing the suffixes -ness, -ful, and -less

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students if they have ever heard of suffixes. Explain that today, they will be learning about suffixes and how they change the meaning of words. Show the Homeschool Pop video: Suffixes for Kids.
  • Defining Suffixes and Base Words (10 mins)
    After the video, review what a suffix and a base word are. Use examples from the video like 'kind' and 'kindness'. Ask students to give their own examples of base words.
  • Exploring the Suffix '-ness' (10 mins)
    Focus on the suffix '-ness'. Discuss how it turns adjectives into nouns (descriptions into things). Provide more examples like 'sad' becoming 'sadness' and 'dark' becoming 'darkness'. Have students generate their own words with '-ness'.
  • Exploring the Suffix '-ful' (10 mins)
    Discuss the suffix '-ful'. Explain that it means 'full of'. Use examples like 'thankful' (full of thanks) and 'colorful' (full of color). Have students act out what it means to be 'helpful' or 'playful'.
  • Exploring the Suffix '-less' (10 mins)
    Discuss the suffix '-less'. Explain that it means 'without'. Use examples like 'fearless' (without fear) and 'clueless' (without a clue). Play a game where students act out words with 'less', like 'sleepless' or 'homeless'.
  • Suffix Review (5 mins)
    Review all three suffixes (-ness, -ful, -less) and their meanings. Ask students to provide examples for each.

Interactive Exercises

  • Suffix Charades
    Write down several words with the suffixes -ness, -ful, and -less on slips of paper. Have students act out the words without speaking, while the other students guess the word and identify the suffix.
  • Suffix Matching Game
    Create a matching game where students match base words to suffixes to create new words. For example, 'kind' matches with '-ness' to make 'kindness'.
  • Sentence Building with Suffixes
    Provide base words and suffixes. Have students create sentences using the new words formed by adding the suffixes. For example, given 'care' and '-ful', a student might write: 'The nurse is very careful.'

Discussion Questions

  • What is a suffix?
  • What is a base word?
  • How does adding '-ness' to a word change its meaning?
  • What does the suffix '-ful' mean?
  • What does the suffix '-less' mean?
  • Can you think of a time you felt thankful?

Skills Developed

  • Vocabulary development
  • Reading comprehension
  • Word recognition
  • Critical thinking
  • Creative expression

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What is a suffix?

Correct Answer: A word part at the end of a word

Question 2:

What is the base word in 'kindness'?

Correct Answer: kind

Question 3:

What does '-ness' usually turn a word into?

Correct Answer: A thing

Question 4:

What does '-ful' mean?

Correct Answer: Full of

Question 5:

Which word means 'full of flavor'?

Correct Answer: Flavorful

Question 6:

What does '-less' mean?

Correct Answer: Without

Question 7:

Which word means 'without fear'?

Correct Answer: Fearless

Question 8:

What is the suffix in the word 'brightness'?

Correct Answer: ness

Question 9:

The Grand Canyon is a _______ place.

Correct Answer: wonderful

Question 10:

What is the suffix in the word 'thankful'?

Correct Answer: ful

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

A ________ is a word part added to the end of a word.

Correct Answer: suffix

Question 2:

The main part of a word is called the ________ word.

Correct Answer: base

Question 3:

Adding '-ness' to 'bright' makes the word ________.

Correct Answer: brightness

Question 4:

'Full of flavor' means it is ________.

Correct Answer: flavorful

Question 5:

'Without fear' means you are ________.

Correct Answer: fearless

Question 6:

Adding '-ful' to 'help' makes the word ________.

Correct Answer: helpful

Question 7:

The word 'sickness' has the suffix ________.

Correct Answer: ness

Question 8:

A cat without hair is a ________ cat.

Correct Answer: hairless

Question 9:

If you are ________, you don't have any clues.

Correct Answer: clueless

Question 10:

The opposite of painful is ________.

Correct Answer: painless

Educational Standards

1.4.R.3:Students will use word parts (e.g., affixes, Anglo-Saxon roots, stems) to define unfamiliar words with prompting. 1.4.R.5:Students will acquire new grade-level vocabulary, relate new words to prior knowledge, and apply vocabulary in new situations. 1.2.PWS.1:Students will blend and decode two-phoneme and three-phoneme words. 1.2.F.1:Students will read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.

Teaching Materials

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