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5 Classroom Activities for Prefixes and Suffixes

activities for prefixes and suffixes

Looking for activities for prefixes and suffixes that your elementary students will LOVE?

It’s time to make prefixes and suffixes both enjoyable and interactive!

These hands-on activities are sure to be a big hit in your classroom when it comes to reviewing prefixes and suffixes.

Keep reading to learn all about these prefix and suffix activities!

And don’t forget to scroll to the bottom to grab your FREE reading comprehension color by number!

activities for prefixes and suffixes

Activity #1: Word Challenge

Put students into small groups (3-4 students work best for this one!).

Read out a list of 10 words, or write them on the board.

The words could include like, play, help, roll, etc.

Think of words that you can attach both prefixes and suffixes onto!

Students will brainstorm how many new words they can create using these base words.

For example, use the word “play”.

Replay. Played. Playing. Plays. Downplay. Underplay. Horseplay.

There are TONS more prefixes and suffixes that you can add!

See what students come up with, it’s so fun to see their little brains working and making those lightbulb connections!

Activity #2: Go digital!

Digital resources create a dynamic and interactive learning experience for students.

I highly recommend incorporating a digital resource or two into your prefixes and suffixes lesson (or using it for spiral throughout the year!).

Technology allows teachers to show prefixes and suffixes in a way that will grab student attention!

I have a best-selling resource that is digital that I know your students will LOVE!

Roots, prefixes, and suffixes for Google Classroom is FUNENJOYABLE, and INTERACTIVE.

These digital activities for this reading skill will work PERFECTLY in your classroom.

Yep – your students will be engagedfocused, and accountable for their learning.

Do you have a small amount of prep time each day? (Let’s be honest… everyone is nodding “yes” to that question!).

These activities are easy to assign and have no additional prep for you.

Digital learning is a way for students to independently practice the content that they have learned in class. 

Students will interactively sort prefixes/suffixes, identify the meaning of prefixes/suffixes, use websites to find the meaning of prefixes/suffixes, and identify prefixes/suffixes in reading passages!

All done digitally!

Click HERE to check out Prefixes and Suffixes for Google Classroom!

activities for prefixes and suffixes

Activity #3: Prefix & suffix illustrations

This activity originally comes from my Morphology Notebook.

You can read more about how to implement a morphology notebook in my blog post HERE.

How does this work?

In a notebook or piece of paper, students will write the prefix or suffix in the middle of the page.

Next, they draw illustrations and examples!

You’ll crack up over how dang creative these kids are and what they come up with (this picture example above that I included is from a student from about 8 years ago, but it always puts a big smile on my face).

This activity is no prep but is super effective for your kiddos!

You could also give each table group or set of 4 students a piece of poster board, as well as assign a particular prefix/suffix to them.

Then, they can decorate their poster board as a group with their illustrations.

Then you can display the poster boards around the room!

activities for prefixes and suffixes

Activity #4: Riddles

Time to get creative!

Students will write riddles to guess what word is being described.

Using prefixes and suffixes, of course!

For example: “My prefix means ‘not.’ People would use this word when someone has bad manners” (impolite is the answer).

Students can write three riddles (or more! Totally depending on your students).

Then, have students read one of their riddles to the class and take turns guessing which word they are describing!

activities for prefixes and suffixes

Activity #5: Scavenger Hunt

How does this one work?

Don’t worry – it’s literally ZERO additional work for you! (Promise!).

All you need for this activity is some sort of text.

Grab some reading passages (ReadWorks is PERFECT for this and free).

Students will literally “hunt” for prefixes and suffixes.

Whenever they see a prefix or a suffix, they highlight it!

This is a great activity because students start making those connections that prefixes and suffixes are literally everywhere in everyday life.

Plus, no prep for you 🙂

And heck, who doesn’t love using a highlighter?!

activities for prefixes and suffixes

Where can I get more 3rd-grade prefixes and suffixes activities??

I have an extensive selection of prefixes and suffixes resources (both digital and paper) at Glitter in Third on TPT!

Click on the links below to check them out:

Need more blog posts on READING?

I have other blog posts that I think you’ll love when teaching reading.

Click on the links below to check them out:

Want a reading comprehension freebie?

Are you new to color-by-numbers?

Make sure to download my Reading Passage & Question Color-By-Number FREEBIE!

It’s super fun for students (and doesn’t take an entire class period to complete, like some reading comprehension passages!)

It’s no-prep, fun, and super easy to grade (just peek at the picture!)

Sign up below to get this color-by-number freebie sent directly to your inbox!

Hey there, I’m Kelly! I I love helping teachers save time with technology and resources so they have more hours in the day to spend with family and friends. Take a look around to find new ideas that you can implement in your classroom today!

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