Welcome to the Magical World of Words!
Lesson Starter: Word Wizard Hat
Objective:
Today's English lesson will introduce the concept of morphology—the study of how words are formed and how their structures influence meaning.
Activity Overview:
To kick off our exploration of words, we will become "Word Wizards" and create our very own Word Wizard Hat! This fun activity will help us understand how different parts of words come together to create new meanings.
Materials Needed:
- Coloured construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
- Markers or crayons
- Stickers (optional)
- A large display board or whiteboard
Instructions:
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Creating the Wizard Hat:
- Each student will receive a piece of coloured construction paper.
- Help the students fold their paper into a simple triangle to form the point of the wizard hat. Use glue or tape to secure it.
- Once every student has their hat ready, they will decorate it with drawings and words that they think of as “magic” (like ‘happy’, ‘play’, ‘jump’).
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Word Parts Exploration:
- On the display board or whiteboard, draw a simple chart with three columns: Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes.
- As a class, brainstorm some root words (like ‘play’) and discuss how we can change them using prefixes (like ‘re-’ for ‘replay’) and suffixes (like ‘-ing’ for ‘playing’).
- Ask students to write their root words on one side of their wizard hats and think of a prefix or suffix to add to the other side.
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Hat Parade:
- After they finish decorating, each student will put on their hat and join a “Hat Parade” around the classroom.
- As they walk, they will share with their classmates one root word and a new word created by adding a prefix or suffix.
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Reflection and Sharing:
- Once the parade is done, gather the class in a circle and discuss the different words that were created.
- Encourage students to share how these new words might be used in sentences or stories.
Conclusion:
By the end of this lesson, students will have a better understanding of how words are built and transformed. With their Word Wizard Hats and new vocabulary, they are ready to create and explore the magical world of words together!
Follow-up:
For homework, challenge students to find three new words at home and identify their root words, prefixes, or suffixes to share in the next class.
Note:
This activity aligns with the Australian Curriculum for English, focusing on word structure and vocabulary development.