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Prefix word builder: un- and re- for 2nd grade vocabulary
What it is: a 2nd grade vocabulary activity where students add the prefixes un- and re- to base words and figure out the new meaning: happy becomes unhappy (not happy), read becomes reread (read again).
Time: about 20 minutes. Grade: 2nd grade.
Materials: prefix cards (un-, re-), base word cards (happy, kind, lock, fair, tie, read, build, fill, write, play), and a recording sheet with three columns: word, new word, meaning.
- Write "unlock" and ask: "What is the base word? What does un- do to it?"
- Teach the meanings: un- means not or the opposite; re- means again.
- Pairs put a prefix card in front of each base word and decide whether it makes a real word.
- For each real word, they write the meaning in their own words.
- Partners act out three words for the class to guess: retie, unpack, refill.
Differentiation: students who need support use only un-. Students who are ready add pre- and dis-. English learners can draw a picture for each new word.
Quick check: say "rebuild" and ask a student what it means and how they know.
Save this activity to your library so it is ready when you need it.
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About this resource
- Shared by
- @UpOnlyLearning · Curriculum team
- Posted
- Oct 29, 2026
- Type
- Lesson plan
- Grade
- Grades K–2
- Subject
- Reading
- Language
- English
- License
- Free for classroom, co-op and tutoring use. Please don't resell.