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Word Trains
Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes
Vocabulary Review Game
superfluous
superfine
Shares “super” =
above, beyond
refine
Shares “fin” =
end
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Word Trains
Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes
Time:


45 minutes
Can be used as a homework assignment
Overview:
This is a culminating activity after teaching common prefixes, roots, and suffixes. Students use their knowledge of
parts of words to recombine and link words together. Students list one word that contains known roots or
prefixes. The student adds a word that shares one of the known word parts. The train continues by adding words
with one shared word part.
Materials:


Class sets of handouts
Reference materials (textbooks, notes, dictionaries, etc.)
Activities: (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4-6)
Common Prefix, Root, and Suffix Master List (p. 3)
1. I am including the list my students use in the 4th grade. The list contains the roots in the Vocabulary from
Classical Roots book, level 4 from Educators Publishing Service and a supplemental prefix list I created.
They are common roots and prefixes and work for all upper elementary, middle, and high school grades.
Basic Game Rules
1. Students choose a word that contains two known word parts. For example, locomotion contains “loc” and
“mot”.
2. Students choose a second word that contains one of the known parts. In our example, the students could
use a new word that has a “loc” OR a “mot” part. The new word must also contain a new word part that is
a known root, prefix, or suffix. Students could link locomotion to remote. Remote contains “mot” from
the original word and the prefix “re” is the newly added portion.
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3. Students must now incorporate the newly added part (re) into a new word with an additional known root,
prefix, or suffix. The new word could be refinish. The next word in the train would contain “fin” and a new
part.
4. Continue for as many connections as possible.
5. Students can work independently or in teams.
Additional Rules
1. I limit how many suffix links the students can make. I only let students use one suffix connection in a list
since suffixes don’t always have a definition component to them. For example, adding “ly” to a word does
not clue you in to the fact that the word relates to water like the root “aqua” would. The suffix “ive” does
not hint at the definition of the word like the root “mono” or “uni” does. There are some suffixes that will
give part of the word meaning, and I included those suffixes on my master list. (I hope this part makes
sense!).
2. Students could use any known root, not just the ones we studied from our list. Often, during a novel study
or general class discussion, we would discuss other word roots as they came up. If students can recall
other known roots or prefixes, they are able to use them. You could limit students to the class list only.
Alternatives
1. Students write definitions for the words, list the connector piece, and include a definition of the
connector piece.
2. Give all students the same starter word.
3. Give all students a starter and end word and see if they can create a link from the given starter word to
the given end word. (This is hard!)
Worksheets
1. Make class sets of the handouts you will be using. There are 3 variations in these materials.
 The basic with space for a 6-word Word Train and space for connection definitions (p. 4).
 The basic with space for an 8-word Word Train with no definitions (p. 6).
 A 6-word Word Train and the directions ask for definitions for any words used and connection
definitions (p. 7).
2. Teacher Notes included (p. 5 and 8).
Additional Information
 Prefix practice pages are available for purchase at
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Common-Prefixes-and-Vocabulary-Strategiessupplements-vocab-programs. These are brief pages to be used to introduce 14 sets of common prefixes
(27 prefixes total).
 If you find this lesson useful, please leave feedback, and I would appreciate a follow. I am building my TpT
store and will be adding additional ELA resources often.
(http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Theroommom)
 Please e-mail [email protected] if you have any questions or suggestions.
 Thank you http://the3amteacher.blogspot.com/ for the fancy border on the cover page.
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Common Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes
Prefixes
Roots
Suffixes
Pre (before
Post (after)
Dis (not, opposite of)
Il (not)
Im (not)
Il (not)
Ir (not)
Mono (one)
Poly (many)
Uni (one)
Bi (two)
Co (together, with)
Com (together, with)
Contra (against, opposite)
Sun (under, below)
Super (over, above, beyond)
Sur (over, above, beyond)
Un (not, none)
Inter (between, among)
Intra (within, inside)
Mal (bad or badly, wrong, ill)
Mis (bad or badly, wrong)
Re (again, back)
Sym (together, same)
Syn (together, same)
Hypo (under below, less)
Hyper (over, above, high)
Act (do, act)
Capt (take, catch)
Class (group, class)
Deli (pleasant)
Eas (comfort)
Famil (household, family)
Fin (end)
Grad (step, grade level)
Grat (thankful)
Loc (place)
Mot (move)
Numer (number)
Office (duty)
Organ (instrument, tool)
Part (piece, part)
Prob (test, prove)
Ques (ask)
Sens (feeling, sense)
Serv (help, serv)
Speci (type, kind)
Stat (stand, state)
Studi (learn, study)
Techn (skill)
Vari (different)
Cian (have a certain skill
or art, one who)
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Ful (full of, contains, has)
Less (without)
Ness (makes a noun
that is a quality/condition)
Ist (a person who makes,
does or is skilled at)
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Name _______________________________
Word Trains
Directions: Choose a word that contains two known word parts from prefixes, roots, and suffixes that we studied this
year. Add a second word that shares ONE word part from the first word. Continue adding words. Review the example
below.
REHEAT
RECONNECT
Shares RE
DISCONNECT
Shares
CONNECT
DISORGANIZED
Shares DIS
START
Shares
ORGAN
END
Shares:
Shares:
Shares:
Shares:
Shares:
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ORGANIST
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Name
Teacher Notes
Word Trains
Directions: Choose a word that contains two known word parts from prefixes, roots, and suffixes that we studied this
year. Add a second word that shares ONE word part from the first word. Continue adding words. Review the example
below.
REHEAT
RECONNECT
Shares RE
DISCONNECT
Shares
CONNECT
DISORGANIZED
Shares DIS
Shares
ORGAN
START
END
Locomotion
Technique
Shares:
LOC
(place)
Shares:
TECHN
(skill)
Dislocate
Technologist
Shares:
DIS
(not)
Disorganized
Shares:
IST
(makes an
occupation)
Shares:
ORGAN
(instrument,
tool)
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Organist
ORGANIST
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Name _______________________________
Word Trains
Directions: Choose a word that contains two known word parts from prefixes, roots, and suffixes that we studied this
year. Add a second word that shares ONE word part from the first word. Continue adding words. Review the example
below.
REHEAT
RECONNECT
Shares RE
DISCONNECT
Shares
CONNECT
DISORGANIZED
Shares DIS
START
Shares
ORGAN
END
6
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ORGANIST
This belongs to TheRoomMom by Caitlin. Do not copy.
Name _______________________________
Word Trains
Directions: Choose a word that contains two known word parts from prefixes, roots, and suffixes that we studied this
year. Add a second word that shares ONE word part from the first word. Continue adding words. Write the definition of
the words, prefixes, and roots that you use. Review the example below.
REHEAT
RECONNECT
Shares RE
DISCONNECT
Shares
CONNECT
DISORGANIZED
Shares DIS
START
Shares
ORGAN
END
Shares:
Shares:
Shares:
Shares:
Shares:
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ORGANIST
This belongs to TheRoomMom by Caitlin. Do not copy.
Name
Teacher Notes
Word Trains
Directions: Choose a word that contains two known word parts from prefixes, roots, and suffixes that we studied this
year. Add a second word that shares ONE word part from the first word. Continue adding words. Write the definition of
the words, prefixes, and roots that you use. Review the example below.
REHEAT
RECONNECT
Shares RE
DISCONNECT
Shares
CONNECT
DISORGANIZED
Shares DIS
Shares
ORGAN
START
END
ACTIVATE: to make active, to
start
REGRADE: to grade again
Shares:
RE
(again,
back)
Shares:
ATE
(verb suffix)
OFFICIATE: to supervise a special
event or game
REQUESTION: to ask again
Shares:
QUES
(to ask, to
search)
UNQUESTIONABLE: without
doubt
ORGANIST
Shares:
OFFIC
(duty, work)
Shares:
UN
(not)
UNOFFICIAL: not finalized or
decided with proper authority
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