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Using and spelling the prefix un-

Lesson details

Learning outcome

I can spell words using the prefix un-.

Key learning points

  1. A prefix is a letter or group of letters at the start of a word which creates another word.
  2. The prefix 'un-' is added to the beginning of a word without changing the spelling of the root word.
  3. The prefix 'un-' usually means not.

Keywords

  • Prefix - a letter or group of letters added to the start of a word to change its meaning

  • Root word - the base word from which other words are formed often by adding prefixes or suffixes

Common misconception

Pupils don't see the spellings of words with the same root word as connected.

Explicitly show how the spelling of the root word stays the same when the prefix is added.

Teacher tip

There will be different elements of the words that children find hard to spell, such as the double 'p' in happy or 'ea' in healthy. Discuss these aspects when you read the words to help the children when they come to spell them independently.

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.
What is the missing word? A __________ is a letter or group of letters at the end of a word which creates another word.

Correct answer: suffix
prefix
affix

Q2.
Match the word to its meaning.

Correct Answer:happy,feeling joy or pleasure

feeling joy or pleasure

Correct Answer:cover,to hide, protect or enclose

to hide, protect or enclose

Correct Answer:fair,treating all equally

treating all equally

Q3.
Match the word to its meaning.

Correct Answer:uncover,to reveal or expose

to reveal or expose

Correct Answer:unfair,not treating all things equally

not treating all things equally

Correct Answer:unhappy,not feeling joy or pleasure

not feeling joy or pleasure

Q4.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence. Shestopt at the kerb.

stopt
stoped
Correct answer: stopped
stopd

Q5.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence. It was a sunee day.

suny
sunee
Correct answer: sunny
suney

Q6.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence. I like to sit on the sofa siping a yummy drink.

Correct answer: sipping
sipign
siping
sippin

6 Questions

Q1.
What are the missing words? A prefix is a letter or group of letters added to __________ of a word to change its meaning.

the middle
the end
Correct answer: the start

Q2.
Which words contain the prefix un-?

Correct answer: unfair
sunny
Correct answer: unhappy
fun
Correct answer: undo

Q3.
Match the words with the same root word.

Correct Answer:unhappy,happy

happy

Correct Answer:untie,tie

tie

Correct Answer:unkind,kind

kind

Q4.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence. The sweet was an unhelfy food.

unhelthy
unnhealthy
Correct answer: unhealthy
unhealthee

Q5.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence. The oven was not working and the chicken was uncookt.

Correct Answer: uncooked

Q6.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence. Please help me to unntye my shoe laces.

Correct Answer: untie

To help you plan your 2 English lesson on: Using and spelling the prefix un-, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...