Classroom Activities: Prefixes

These classroom activities are designed to complement the Prefixes topic on BrainPOP Jr.

Opposites

Prepare index cards with antonym pairs that include prefixes, such as fair/unfair, appear/disappear, correct/incorrect, etc. Pair students up and give one card to each partnership. Have the partners determine how they can communicate the concept together by either acting it out or drawing pictures. Other members of the class can guess the word pair.

Simon Says

Play a game of “Simon Says” together using instructions that involve words with prefixes. For example, you might call out “Simon says to write your name” and “Simon says to rewrite your name.” Other words might include: fasten/unfasten, continue/discontinue, appear/reappear, build/rebuild, lock/unlock, active/hyperactive. Tell students to clap, jump, or make another specific movement anytime they hear a word with a prefix, and then act it out. After a few rounds, students can take turns calling out instructions.