Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Prefixes and Suffixes

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The objectives stage is fundamental to guide the focus of students and the teacher, clearly establishing what is expected to be achieved by the end of the class. By defining specific objectives, students can better understand what they need to consolidate from their previous study and how they will apply this knowledge during practical activities in class. This moment also serves to align the expectations and learning goals of the lesson, preparing the ground for an effective application of the worked content.

Main Objectives:

1. Empower students to identify and correctly use the main prefixes and suffixes of the English language.

2. Develop the ability to analyze and apply prefixes and suffixes to form new words and better understand English vocabulary.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage students' curiosity and independent research about new words formed by prefixes and suffixes.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The introduction serves to engage students in the lesson's topic, using problem situations they might encounter in everyday life or in texts, encouraging them to apply prior knowledge. Additionally, the contextualization helps to understand the relevance of prefixes and suffixes in daily life and literature. This moment also prepares the ground for practical activities, dynamically linking theory and practice.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you are reading a text in English and come across the word 'disinterested'. How would you break down this word to understand its meaning?

2. If a friend of yours said they are 'unhappy' with the result of a test, the prefix 'un-' changes the meaning of the word 'happy'. Discuss with your group what else this prefix can modify in other words you know.

Contextualization

Prefixes and suffixes are like magical tools that modify the meaning of words in English. For example, the prefix 'un-' transforms the word 'happy' into 'unhappy', changing its meaning to the opposite. These small parts of words are essential for expanding vocabulary and understanding the structure of the language. Curiously, many of the prefixes and suffixes in English come from Latin and Greek, which connects English to ancient languages and shows how language evolves over time.

Development

Duration: (75 - 85 minutes)

The Development stage is designed for students to practically and dynamically apply the concepts of prefixes and suffixes they studied previously. Group activities not only encourage collaboration and debate but also allow for more effective learning through continuous practice. Each activity is structured to consolidate students' knowledge and develop skills in analyzing and creating words, which are essential for fluency in English.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Prefix and Suffix Hunt

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop the ability to identify and classify prefixes and suffixes, as well as stimulate creativity in forming new words.

- Description: In this activity, students will be divided into groups of up to 5 people and will receive a list of words where they must identify and classify the prefixes and suffixes. Each group will have a different list, and at the end, they will present a new word they created using a prefix or suffix identified in the list.

- Instructions:

• Form groups of up to 5 students.

• Distribute the word lists to each group.

• Ask them to identify and underline the prefixes and suffixes in each word.

• Students should classify the prefixes and suffixes in a provided table, indicating whether they are common, negative, time-related, among others.

• Each group must create a new word using an identified prefix or suffix and explain its new meaning to the class.

• Conclude with a group review of all the new words created and their meanings.

Activity 2 - Word Builders

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Practice forming words from prefixes, suffixes, and roots, and improve vocabulary understanding.

- Description: Students, in groups, will receive cards with roots of English words and must combine them with cards of prefixes and suffixes to form new words. Each group will create a small dictionary of formed words, with definitions and usage examples.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Distribute cards containing roots, prefixes, and suffixes.

• Students should combine the cards to form new words, recording them in a notebook or sheet.

• Each group must create definitions for the formed words and examples of use in sentences.

• Present the 'dictionaries' created by each group to the class, discussing the new words and their meanings.

Activity 3 - Prefix and Suffix Olympics

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Promote healthy competition and quick identification of prefixes and suffixes to form words, as well as encourage teamwork.

- Description: In this competitive game, groups of students will compete against each other to form the greatest number of correct words using prefixes and suffixes within a limited time. Extra points will be awarded for creativity and correct use of prefixes and suffixes.

- Instructions:

• Organize the room into game stations, with each station containing cards of prefixes, suffixes, and roots.

• Divide the class into groups and rotate them between the stations every 5 minutes.

• Each station will have different challenges, like forming words on a board or completing gaps in sentences with prefixes or suffixes.

• Score each correctly formed word, giving extra points for creativity and correct use of prefixes and suffixes.

• At the end, the group with the most points wins.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

This feedback stage is crucial for consolidating learning, allowing students to articulate what they have learned and exchange experiences. Group discussion helps reinforce knowledge, as students can hear different perspectives and approaches. Additionally, this stage facilitates understanding potential mistakes and doubts, which is essential for the learning process.

Group Discussion

At the end of the activities, gather all students for a group discussion. Start with a brief introduction: 'Now, let's share our discoveries and experiences from the activities. Each group will have the opportunity to present a new word they created and explain how they used the prefix or suffix to arrive at that meaning. Additionally, we will discuss the challenges encountered and how we overcame them together.'

Key Questions

1. What were the most challenging prefixes and suffixes to identify and why?

2. How can understanding prefixes and suffixes help improve reading and vocabulary in English?

3. Was there any new word you created that you found particularly interesting? Why?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The conclusion stage is vital to ensure that students consolidate the knowledge acquired during the lesson. Summarizing the key points reinforces information retention and helps students link theory to practice. Moreover, highlighting the importance of prefixes and suffixes in everyday life motivates students by showing the relevance of what they have learned beyond the classroom.

Summary

To conclude, it is essential to recap the main points covered about prefixes and suffixes. During the lesson, students explored word formation, identifying and classifying prefixes and suffixes in various contexts. These elements are fundamental for understanding and expanding English vocabulary, as they modify and enrich the meaning of words.

Theory Connection

Today's lesson was meticulously designed to connect theory to practice. Students not only reviewed prefixes and suffixes in theory, but also applied this knowledge through practical and dynamic activities, such as the 'Prefix and Suffix Hunt' and 'Word Builders'. This practical approach reinforces learning, allowing students to see firsthand how theory shapes daily use and fluency in the language.

Closing

Understanding and mastering prefixes and suffixes is a crucial step towards better communication in English. These elements not only enrich vocabulary but also facilitate text interpretation and clear expression of ideas. By the end of this lesson, students are better prepared to apply this knowledge in real situations of reading, writing, and conversing, which is essential for the continuous development of their language skills.