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      Investigating the letter string ‘fer’

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can spell words using the letter string ‘fer’.

      Key learning points

      1. When adding suffixes to words ending ‘fer’, the ‘r’ is doubled if the 'fer' is still stressed when the ending is added.
      2. The ‘r’ is not doubled if the ‘fer’ is no longer stressed.
      3. We can use word maps to link related words and identify connections in the meaning and spelling of words.
      4. How to spell the curriculum words: sincere and sincerely.

      Keywords

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

      • Suffix - a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning

      • Letter string - a sequence of letters that appears in several words

      • Stressed sound - an emphasised sound

      Common misconception

      Children may find it very difficult to identify when 'fer' is stressed or unstressed.

      Model saying the words with 'fer' aloud and stressing the appropriate syllable. Ask pupils to copy you.

      Teacher tip

      Look at the root words, such as 'offer' with a stressed first syllable and show pupils how the 'r' is never doubled, because the 'fer' is never stressed. Group the related words of other examples by those that have a double 'r' and those without.

      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 suffixes.

      Correct answer: -ence
      Correct answer: -ed
      in-
      Correct answer: -ing
      un-

      Q2.
      Select all the words containing the suffix -ed.

      Correct answer: offered
      head
      Correct answer: hopped
      seed
      Correct answer: cried

      Q3.
      Match the words ending with the suffix -ed to their root words.

      Correct Answer:play,played

      played

      Correct Answer:preferred,prefer

      prefer

      Correct Answer:stopped,stop

      stop

      Correct Answer:smile,smile

      smile

      Correct Answer:cried,cry

      cry

      Q4.
      Match the root words to the corresponding verbs with the suffix -ing.

      Correct Answer:bake,baking

      baking

      Correct Answer:talk,talking

      talking

      Correct Answer:hop,hopping

      hopping

      Correct Answer:cry,crying

      crying

      Q5.
      Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'Last week, I went swiming.'

      swiming
      Correct answer: swimming
      swimin

      Q6.
      Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'I am carefully controwling the kite.'

      controling
      controlin
      controllign
      Correct answer: controlling

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which word or words below have 'fer' in a stressed syllable?

      preference
      suffering
      Correct answer: transferring

      Q2.
      Which word or words below have 'fer' in a stressed syllable?

      Correct answer: referred
      reference
      offer

      Q3.
      Select the correct spelling of the word.

      offring
      Correct answer: offering
      offerring

      Q4.
      Select the correct spelling of the word.

      transferd
      transfered
      Correct answer: transferred

      Q5.
      Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'You need a refrance to get a job.'

      Correct Answer: reference

      Q6.
      Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the following sentence: 'I would like a difrant pen.'

      Correct Answer: different

      To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Investigating the letter string ‘fer’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...