Un-word workshop
Add un to change a word’s meaning.
For parents and teachers
About this game
The prefix un can express not, as in unhappy, or reverse an action, as in untie. Read each completed word and explain what changed in its meaning. The spelling task preserves the root while adding the prefix. Use the finished words in useful spoken sentences and then try writing one independently, rather than treating the prefix as a separate word.
Common Core connection: L.K.4.b. This is focused practice for part of the standard.
Suggested for ages 5–6. Kindergarten is a starting point, not a rule for every class.
How to play
Read the cards and match each one to its partner. Find six pairs, with no timer. Read the whole example before choosing.
Step by step
- Read. Read the card, sentence or story clue all the way through.
- Choose. Use the meaning, not a guess from the first word.
- Talk. After the round, explain one choice out loud.
Worked examples
Use the first item as a model. Read it aloud, name the clue that decides the answer, then choose. The same steps work for the next item.
Common mistakes
Choosing too quickly. Slow down and use the whole sentence or clue. A familiar word can still be the wrong choice.
At home
Play one round together, then let the learner try the next round. Ask which words decided the answer.
In class
Use one round as a warm-up. Invite a learner to explain a choice before the next card.
Printable
This on-screen game does not include a worksheet. Practice the same idea with paper and a pencil, using an example from the guide.
Questions
Does this cover a whole standard?
No. It practices one part of the connected standard.