How to build new words using prefixes un-, re-, pre- (Grade 2 lesson)

🎯 Learning Goals

• ✅ Students will be able to identify the prefixes 'un-', 're-', and 'pre-'.
• 🗣️ Students will understand how these prefixes change the meaning of base words.
• ✍️ Students will be able to build new words using these prefixes.

🎒 What You'll Need

• 📚 Whiteboard or projector
• ✏️ Markers or pens
• ✂️ Index cards or small slips of paper
• 📋 Worksheet with practice words (provided below)

👋 Warm-up Activity (5 mins)

• ❓ Start by asking students if they know what a "word part" is.
• 💬 Discuss words like "replay" or "unhappy" and ask what they notice about the beginning of these words.
• 👂 Listen for ideas about how the beginning parts change the word's meaning.

🧠 Building New Words: Prefixes un-, re-, pre-

Today, we're going to become word builders! We'll learn about special word parts called prefixes. Prefixes are added to the beginning of a base word to change its meaning.

🚫 Prefix 'un-'

• 🔑 Meaning: 'un-' means "not" or "the opposite of".
• ❌ Example 1: If you are happy, you feel good. If you are unhappy, you are not happy.
• 🔓 Example 2: When you tie your shoes, you make a knot. When you untie your shoes, you undo the knot.

🔄 Prefix 're-'

• 🔑 Meaning: 're-' means "again" or "back".
• 🔁 Example 1: If you read a book, you look at the words. If you reread a book, you read it again.
• 🏗️ Example 2: When you build a tower, you put it together. If you rebuild a tower, you build it again.

🔜 Prefix 'pre-'

• 🔑 Meaning: 'pre-' means "before".
• 🕰️ Example 1: To heat food makes it warm. To preheat an oven means to heat it before putting food in.
• ➡️ Example 2: A view is what you see. A preview is a quick look before the main show.

📝 Practice & Assessment

Let's see if you can be a word builder! Add the correct prefix (un-, re-, or pre-) to each base word to make a new word that matches the meaning.

1. 🤔 What word means "to do something again"? (do) → ________
2. 🧐 What word means "not kind"? (kind) → ________
3. 💡 What word means "to pay before"? (pay) → ________
4. 🧩 What word means "to heat something again"? (heat) → ________
5. ✍️ What word means "not safe"? (safe) → ________
6. 💬 What word means "to write again"? (write) → ________
7. ❓ What word means "to view before"? (view) → ________

Answer Key:

1. redo
2. unkind
3. prepay
4. reheat
5. unsafe
6. rewrite
7. preview