Third Grade · Reading · week 1

Prefixes un-, re-, pre-

Identify the prefixes un-, re-, and pre- in words and use each one to figure out what the whole word means.

A prefix is a word part added to the FRONT of a base word. It changes the meaning without changing the base word itself. Three common prefixes are un- (not, or the opposite), re- (again), and pre- (before).

Take the base word "happy." Add un- and you get "unhappy" -- not happy. Take "play." Add re- and you get "replay" -- play again. Take "view." Add pre- and you get "preview" -- view before. The base word stays the same; the prefix does all the work.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Cover the prefix with a finger and read the base word alone first -- then uncover the prefix and add its meaning.
  • Make a simple chart with three columns: un-, re-, pre-. Take turns adding real words to each column.
  • When your child meets a new word with one of these prefixes, pause and ask, "What is the base word? What does the prefix add?" before rushing to a definition.
  • Point out these prefixes on food packages, remotes, and signs (reheat, unlock, preschool) -- they are everywhere once you notice them.
Talk about it:
  • What is the base word inside "rewrite"? What does the whole word mean?
  • How does un- change the meaning of a word?
  • Can you find a pre- word somewhere in this house?

Mastery looks like: They can split a word into a known prefix (un-, re-, pre-) plus its base word and state the meaning of the whole word.

Common stumbles: Guessing a meaning from the whole word shape instead of checking the base word first; mixing up re- (again) with un- (not).

See it visually

Interactive, spoken-aloud tools that show this idea in motion.

Prefixes & SuffixesAdd un-, re-, -ful, -less and watch a word’s meaning change.try →
Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
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