Spelling Mechanics
Homeschool Word Study
Sample of level 4 unit 5: Review Words that end
in f or fe.
On the actual CD you will receive a .doc copy that can be
manipulated to fit your personal word needs. Also, all
files will be separated in to unit folders, not on one PDF
document and will be labeled as such. Please email me
with any questions.
Ann Cowan
Please note T=Teacher page; U=Student unit; K=Unit Key;
S=Sort; t=Unit test; Tk=Test Key. Labels used only on
samples.
© 2009 Mattmann and Cowan
Rev. 2012
Unit 5
Unit 5: Review and Words That End in “f” and “fe”
In this lesson students learn:
 to hear the difference between the /f/ and the /v/ sound in plural words that end in
“f” or “fe,
 to know that some words keep the “f” and add “s” and others change the “f” to
“v” and then add “es,”
 to understand the difference between “proofs and proves” and “beliefs and
believes,”
 to understand that several words may be correctly spelled either way (by adding
“s” or by changing the “f” to “v” and adding “es,”) and
 to review previously learned skills
The Rule: To decide how to make a word that ends in “f” or “fe” plural, listen to how it
sounds when you say it.
If the plural noun ends with the soft ffs sound (chiefs, cuffs, beliefs), just add s.
If the plural noun ends with the hard ves sound (thieves, shelves, halves),
change the “f” or “fe” in the singular word to “v” and add “es.”
Some words are correct either way, such as scarfs/scarves, wharfs/wharves,
hoofs/hooves, and dwarfs/dwarves.
Teaching Notes
This lesson definitely connects sound to spelling, not according to any definite rule, but by
noticing how people make the plural sound when speaking. Students will say the plural
(speaking quietly aloud to oneself is especially helpful for some) and then choose to add “s” or to
change the “f” to “v” and add “es.”

Confusing to students is the idea that “proof” and “belief” are NOUNS which are made
plural by adding “s,”
i.e. I will choose a portrait from the proofs the photographer offered; I love doing geometry
proofs. What are your beliefs about war?

and VERBS which have forms ending in “ves.”
i.e. This evidence proves my argument; She believes she is always right.
© 2009 Mattmann and Cowan
5-2
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Unit 5
Reference Section: Students cut out most of page 1 to glue in the Reference section of
their spelling notebooks. They can write notes for the words on the bottom of p.2.
Note: If you are philosophically opposed to word searches, do not assign them, or offer
them as an optional activity; the students may still highlight or circle the correctly spelled
words for the puzzle that are found in the list to the right of the puzzle.
Launch Pad
Previous Lessons for
Grade 3, Unit 24
Re-teaching or Practice
Web
© 2009 Mattmann and Cowan
5-3
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Unit 5
Unit 5: Review and Words That End in “f” and “fe”
Name _______________________

A. Look at these plural words.
cliffs
beliefs
giraffes
sniffs
chiefs
How does the “f” sound? __________
Write the rule. When making a word that ends in “f” or “fe” plural and the /f/
sounds like _________________________________________________________
B. Look at these words. Think about how you said “more than one” of them.
wife
wolf
thief
loaf
leaf
Discuss: What happens to the /f/ sound when you make these
words plural?
Write the rule. When making a word that ends in “f” or “fe” plural and the
/f/ sounds like __________________________________________________
C. Here are words to notice.
This evidence proves my case. What part of speech is “proves?” ______________
I bought a portrait after I saw the proofs. What part of speech is “proofs?” _______
My cat believes that whenever I come home, it’s suppertime. _______________
What are your beliefs about adding another school in our city? _______________
Rule: “Proofs” and “beliefs” are NOUNS, so we add “s” to make them plural.
They keep their /f/ sound. “Proves” and “believes” are verbs.
© 2009 Mattmann and Cowan
5-4
D
Unit 5
PART ONE—Practice
wife
thief
knife
wolf
elf
Make the word box words plural to complete the sentences.
1. All the ______________ of the neighborhood gathered to have coffee and dessert.
2. They discussed the statues of friendly, colorful _______________ in their gardens that
_____________________ were coming in the night to steal.
3. The ladies used fancy ___________________ to cut the cake.
4. They went home before dark so howling ____________________ wouldn’t follow them.
PART TWO—Practice—Fill in the chart with plurals of these base words.
Base Word
More than one…
Base Word
yourself
wife
chief
wolf
leaf
elf
sniff
giraffe
shelf
half
calf
cliff
More than one…
 The following words can be made plural by adding “s” or by changing “f “to
“v” and adding “es.”
Base
scarf
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Quebec-wharf.jpg
Plural Spelling #1 Plural Spelling #2
wharf
hoof
dwarf
© 2009 Mattmann and Cowan
5-5
D
Unit 5
PART THREE— Homonyms
Write about how the meanings of the words in the box are related or not related.
grow, grown, groan
Now illustrate “grow,” “grown,” and “groan.”
grow
grown
groan
PART FOUR—Put Accent Marks on the Correct Syllable
pay  check
con  sid  er
hos  pi  tal
ac  cord  ing
in  dus  try
PART FIVE—Write –ge or –dge on the line. Then write the whole word.
ca____
______________
ju_____
______________
slu____
______________
ba____
______________
bri_____
______________
hu____
______________
sta____
______________
bu_____ ______________
© 2009 Mattmann and Cowan
5-6
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Unit 5
PART SIX –- Silent “e”
Be a detective! You know that in order to add an ending that begins with a vowel, you must
drop the final silent “e” of the base word.
Look at the words with suffixes below. Can you tell what the base word was before the ending
was added? Try it! Don’t forget: the base words are words you’ve heard, so make sure they
make sense to you!
Some suffixes that might be helpful: ous, y, ion
Word With Suffix
waded
Base Word (put silent “e” back on!)
Suffix
cubed
diving
rated
eroded
greasing
broken
deserving
Here are some challenging words to take apart!
*continuous
*separation
* hesitation
Directions: Put an accent mark on the first syllable and give a
definition. Then put an accent mark on the second syllable and give a
definition.
pres  ent __________________________________________________________
pre  sent___________________________________________________________
© 2009 Mattmann and Cowan
5-7
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Unit 5
PART SEVEN– Practice
Highlight or circle 10 correctly spelled words in the list at the right.
Then find the words in the puzzle to circle or highlight.
S
M
I
L
I
N
G
H
W
H
J
M
C
L
G
U
N
Z
X
O
O
O
S
A
W
A
P
N
A
N
T
W
N
P
W
P
Y
F
S
P
W
V
D
N
B
A
N
M
I
E
H
H
A
T
J
P
O
I
G
J
J
C
E
L
T
A
B
O
E
D
O
E
Y
N
A
I
S
E
M
P
V
S
L
F
N
S
N
N
N
G
U
S
H
P
E
E
R
N
U
F
F
B
K
E
T
S
J
E
G
V
S
M
H
L
F
M
T
N
W
D
G
N
I
E
L
B
U
O
D
W
V
S
I
G
E
D
U
I
R
I
U
W
M
G
N
I
E
V
A
H
C
H
L
W
Y
U
F
V
A
F
B
G
E
U
A
T
I
J
B
D
W
R
T
J
D
Q
R
S
G
K
W
O
L
V
E
S
J
D
S
F
Q
A
B
B
V
E
O
W
W
Y
A
U
D
T
A
H
L
R
V
H
F
U
W
B
E
B
K
I
U
O
W
I
A
T
Q
smiling
hopeless
wolfs (n.)
knives
happened
thieves
loafs (n.)
largest
wastful
wasteful
amusement
doubleing
haveing
having
happend
wolves
PART EIGHT – Dictionary
Look up the word in the big box. What are the two guide words on the page?
Write them in the small boxes above your word.
there
© 2009 Mattmann and Cowan
already
5-8
power
D
Unit 5
PART NINE – Crossword Puzzle
Here are the singular forms of words that end in f and fe. Use them to solve the
clues below and complete the puzzle.
calf
thief
leaf
elf
wolf
proof
knife
wharf
yourself
scarf
wife
giraffe
1
shelf
hoof
loaf
2
4
half
life
chief
3
5
6
8
7
9
11
10
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
ACROSS
DOWN
4. more than one baby cow
6. Ships dock at ________________.
8. These are on a tree.
10. Two of these make one whole.
11. Books sit on ________________
13. A cat has nine ______________
14. Detectives need _______________.
15. These like pigs for lunch.
17. ladies who gather for tea
18. Don't work together-do it ________
1. many little magical creatures
2. long-necked creatures
3. Cut with several of these.
5. Detectives catch _______________.
9. Knit many ____________ to keep
necks warm.
12. A horse has four ___________.
13. Bake two of these.
16. many leaders
© 2009 Mattmann and Cowan
5-9
D
Unit 5
Unit 5: Review and Words That End in
“f” and “fe”
A. Look at these plural words.
cliffs
beliefs
giraffes
sniffs
chiefs
How does the “f” sound? Like /f/
Write the rule. When making a word that ends in “f” or “fe” plural and the /f/
sounds like f, just add an “s.”
B. Look at these words. Think about how you said “more than one” of them.
wife
wolf
thief
loaf
leaf
Discuss: What happens to the /f/ sound when you make these words plural?
Write the rule. When making a word that ends in “f” or “fe” plural and the /f/
sounds like /v/, change the “f” to “v” and add “es.”
C. Here are words to notice.
This evidence proves my case. What part of speech is “proves?” verb
I bought a portrait after I saw the proofs. What part of speech is “proofs?” noun
My cat believes that whenever I come home, it’s suppertime. verb
What are your beliefs about adding another school in our city? noun
Rule: “Proofs” and “beliefs” are NOUNS, so we add “s” to make them plural.
They keep their /f/ sound. “Proves” and “believes” are verbs.
© 2009 Mattmann and Cowan
5-10
D
Unit 5
PART ONE—Practice
wife
thief
knife
wolf
elf
Make the word box words plural to complete the sentences.
1. All the wives of the neighborhood gathered to have coffee and dessert.
2. They discussed the statues of friendly, colorful elves in their gardens that thieves were
coming in the night to steal.
3. The ladies used fancy knives to cut the cake.
4. They went home before dark so howling wolves wouldn’t follow them.
PART TWO—Practice—Fill in the chart with plurals of these base words.
Base Word
More than one…
yourself
Base Word
More than one…
yourselves
wife
wives
chief
chiefs
wolf
wolves
leaf
leaves
elf
sniff
sniffs
giraffe
giraffes
shelf
shelves
half
halves
calf
calves
cliff
cliffs
elves
The following words can be made plural by adding “s” or by changing “f “to “v”
and adding “es.”
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Quebec-wharf.jpg
Base
scarf
Plural Spelling #1 Plural Spelling #2
scarfs
scarves
wharf
wharfs
wharves
hoof
hoofs
hooves
dwarf
dwarfs
dwarves
© 2009 Mattmann and Cowan
5-11
D
Unit 5
PART THREE— Homonyms
Write about how the meanings of the words in the box are related or not related.
grow, grown, groan
grow (verb)-to become bigger, to develop, etc.
grown (past tense of grow)
groan-to utter a deep sound of pain or grief
Now illustrate “grow,” “grown,” and “groan.”
grow
grown
groan
PART FOUR—Put Accent Marks on the Correct Syllable
pay'  check
con  sid'  er
hos'  pi  tal
ac  cord'  ing
in'  dus  try
PART FIVE—Write –ge or –dge on the line. Then write the whole word.
cage
cage
judge
judge
sludge
sludge
badge
badge
bridge
bridge
huge
huge
stage
stage
budge
budge
© 2009 Mattmann and Cowan
5-12
D
Unit 5
PART SIX –- Silent “e”
Be a detective! You know that in order to add an ending that begins with a vowel, you must
drop the final silent “e” of the base word.
So, can you tell what the base word was based on the word with the ending? Try it! Don’t
forget: the base words are words you’ve heard, so make sure they make sense to you!
Some suffixes that might be helpful: ation, ical, y, ion
Word With Suffix
waded
Base Word
wade
Suffix
ed
cubed
cube
ed
diving
dive
ing
rated
rate
ed
eroded
erode
ed
greasing
grease
ing
broken
broke
en
deserving
deserve
ing
Here are some challenging words to take apart!
*continuous
continue
ous
*separation
separate
ion
*hesitation
hesitate
ion
Put an accent mark on the first syllable and give a definition. Then put an accent mark on the
second syllable and give a definition.
pres ' ent now; or a gift
pre  sent' to introduce; to bring before the public
© 2009 Mattmann and Cowan
5-13
D
Unit 5
PART SEVEN –- Practice
Highlight or circle 10 correctly spelled words in the list at the right.
Then find the words in the puzzle to circle or highlight.
S
M
I
L
I
N
G
H
W
H
J
M
C
L
G
U
N
Z
X
O
O
O
S
A
W
A
P
N
A
N
T
W
N
P
W
P
Y
F
S
P
W
V
D
N
B
A
N
M
I
E
H
H
A
T
J
P
O
I
G
J
J
C
E
L
T
A
B
O
E
D
O
E
Y
N
A
I
S
E
M
P
V
S
L
F
N
S
N
N
N
G
U
S
H
P
E
E
R
N
U
F
F
B
K
E
T
S
J
E
G
V
S
M
H
L
F
M
T
N
W
D
G
N
I
E
L
B
U
O
D
W
V
S
I
G
E
D
U
I
R
I
U
W
M
G
N
I
E
V
A
H
C
H
L
W
Y
U
F
V
A
F
B
G
E
U
A
T
I
J
B
D
W
R
T
J
D
Q
R
S
G
K
W
O
L
V
E
S
J
D
S
F
Q
A
B
B
V
E
O
W
W
Y
A
U
D
T
A
H
L
R
V
H
F
U
W
B
E
B
K
I
U
O
W
I
A
T
Q
smiling
hopeless
wolfs (n.)
knives
happened
thieves
loafs (n.)
largest
wastful
wasteful
amusement
doubleing
haveing
having
happend
wolves
PART EIGHT – Dictionary
Look up the word in the big box. What are the two guide words on the page? Write
them in the small boxes above your word. (Answers will vary.)
thee
therefore
there
© 2009 Mattmann and Cowan
alongside alternately
poultice power
already
power
5-14
D
Unit 5
PART NINE – Crossword Puzzle
Here are the singular forms of words that end in f and fe. Use them to solve the
clues below and complete the puzzle.
calf
thief
leaf
elf
wolf
proof
knife
wharf
yourself
scarf
wife
giraffe
1E
4C A L V E S
V
8L E A V E
S
14P
18Y
shelf
hoof
loaf
2G
3K
5T
I
H A R F
I
A
E
F
V
F
E
E
E S
S
6W
9S
half
life
chief
7S
10H
N
I
A L V E S
E
S
C
A
R
11S 12H
13L
E L V
I V E S
O
E
O
R O O F S
A
15W
F
O L V E S
16C
S
E
17W
H
I V E S
I
E
F
O U R S E L V E S
ACROSS
DOWN
4. more than one baby cow
6. Ships dock at ________________.
8. These are on a tree.
10. Two of these make one whole.
11. Books sit on ________________
13. A cat has nine ______________
14. Detectives need _______________.
15. These like pigs for lunch.
17. ladies who gather for tea
18. Don't work together-do it ________
1. many little magical creatures
2. long-necked creatures
3. Cut with several of these.
5. Detectives catch _______________.
9. Knit many ____________ to keep
necks warm.
12. A horse has four ___________.
13. Bake two of these.
16. many leaders
© 2009 Mattmann and Cowan
5-15
D
Unit 5
Unit 5: Review & Words That End in “f” or “fe”
Name ________________________________________
Part 1 – My Words
1. ___________________________
2. ___________________________
3. ___________________________
4. ___________________________
5. ___________________________
Part 2 – Make these words plural.
1. shelf ___________________
2. calf ___________________
3. wife ___________________
4. yourself ___________________
5. belief ___________________
6. cliff ___________________
7. leaf ___________________
8. wolf ___________________
9. knife ___________________
10. thief ___________________
Part 3 – Silent “E”-Write the base word and the suffix on the lines.
1. waded = _____________ + ______________
2. broken = _____________ + ______________
3. having = _____________ + ______________
4. wasteful = _____________ + ______________
5. separation = _____________ + ______________
© 2009 Mattmann and Cowan
5-16
D
Unit 5
Part 4 – Fill in the blanks.
Directions: Use “grow,” “grown,” or “groan” in the following sentences.
1. Do you think your new plants will ______________________?
2. I can’t wait to see them all ______________________ up and blooming.
3. Carrying around heavy watering cans can make me ______________________
about all the hard work.
4. But if I can ______________________ plants, anyone can.
5. I plan to have a garden when I’m all ______________________ up.
Part 5 – Circle the correct spelling.
1. My friends are always (smileing / smiling).
2. We are (hopeful / hopful) that the leg will heal soon.
3. I am (haveing / having) my teeth cleaned on Thursday.
4. We have a (wireless / wirless) computer system.
5. Scary spiders live in our (basement / basment).
Part 6—Accent Marks
Directions: Put a dark accent mark right after the accented syllable.
be  cause
help  ful
© 2009 Mattmann and Cowan
sin  cere  ly
5-17
din  ner
re  main
D
Unit 5
Unit 5: Review & Words That End in “f” or “fe”
Name ________________________________________
Part 1 – My Words
1. ___________________________
2. ___________________________
3. ___________________________
4. ___________________________
5. ___________________________
Part 2 – Make these words plural.
1. shelf shelves
2. calf calves
3. wife wives
4. yourself yourselves
5. belief beliefs
6. cliff cliffs
7. leaf leaves
8. wolf wolves
9. knife knives
10. thief thieves
Part 3 – Silent “E”-Write the base word and the suffix on the lines.
6. waded = wade + ed
7. broken = broke + en
8. having = have + ing
9. wasteful = waste + ful
10.separation = separate + ion
© 2009 Mattmann and Cowan
5-18
D
Unit 5
Part 4 – Fill in the blanks.
Directions: Use “grow,” “grown,” or “groan” in the following sentences.
1. Do you think your new plants will grow?
2. I can’t wait to see them all grown up and blooming.
3. Carrying around heavy watering cans can make me groan about all the hard
work.
4. But if I can grow plants, anyone can.
5. I plan to have a garden when I’m all grown up.
Part 5 – Circle the correct spelling.
6. My friends are always (smileing / smiling).
7. We are (hopeful / hopful) that the leg will heal soon.
8. I am (haveing / having) my teeth cleaned on Thursday.
9. We have a (wireless / wirless) computer system.
10.Scary spiders live in our (basement / basment).
Part 6—Accent Marks
Directions: Put a dark accent mark right after the accented syllable.
be  cause'
help'  ful
© 2009 Mattmann and Cowan
sin  cere'  ly
5-19
din'  ner
re  main'
D