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Spelling words with the prefixes ad- and al- and hyphens
I can spell a range of words with the prefixes ad-, al-, af- and a-.
Lesson 12 of 12
New
New
- Year 5
Spelling words with the prefixes ad- and al- and hyphens
I can spell a range of words with the prefixes ad-, al-, af- and a-.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- A prefix is a letter or group of letters at the start of a word which changes its meaning.
- The prefixes ad- and af- mean ‘towards’.
- The prefix al- means ‘all’ and a- means ‘in the state of’.
- A hyphen can join a prefix to a base word to avoid ambiguity in meaning or spelling.
- How to spell the curriculum words: experience, extreme and increase.
Keywords
Prefix - a letter or group of letters added to the start of a root word to change its meaning
Root word - the base word from which other words are formed often by adding prefixes or suffixes
Hyphen - a hyphen can join a prefix to a base word to avoid ambiguity in meaning or spelling
Common misconception
Pupils may think that for every word with a prefix the meaning of the prefix will be very literal.
Show a range of words with the focus prefixes in. Whilst with some words the meaning of the prefix may be clear, with others it is not. Explain this is linked to the complex way that language develops over time.
Pupils can go on a prefix hunt. Give a page of text, and ask children to idenitfy all the words with prefixes in them. Can they remember the meaning of the prefixes? Is the meaning of the prefix clear in the meaning of the word (sometimes it isn't).
Teacher tip
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Select the prefixes.
Select the prefixes.
abc
first
-ly
Q2.What does the prefix co- usually mean? Example words are 'coordinate' or 'copilot'.
What does the prefix co- usually mean? Example words are 'coordinate' or 'copilot'.
before
against
Q3.What does the word 'recover' mean?
What does the word 'recover' mean?
to get back something that was lost or misplaced
to find or learn something again
Q4.Match the words to their meanings.
Match the words to their meanings.
Q5.Match the words to their meanings.
Match the words to their meanings.
Q6.Correct the spelling of the word in bold. Please riwind the film.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold. Please riwind the film.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the prefixes to the root words.
Match the prefixes to the root words.
Q2.Match the prefix to its meaning.
Match the prefix to its meaning.
Q3.Select the correct spelling of the word.
Select the correct spelling of the word.
allso
alsow
Q4.Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the sentence. I allredy have that football card.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the sentence. I allredy have that football card.
Q5.Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the sentence. Allthow I arrived late, the film had not begun.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the sentence. Allthow I arrived late, the film had not begun.
Q6.Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the sentence. He was a very kind and afible man.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the sentence. He was a very kind and afible man.
