ELA Bell Ringer for Grades 6–8: Word prefixes like super- and trans-
A free ELA bell ringer for grades 6–8. Put the prompt on the board as students walk in, give them three to five minutes, then go over it together. The answer and teacher notes are in the box below the prompt.
The prompt
Each word below starts with a prefix. Underline the prefix, write what it means, and then write what the whole word means. Bonus: invent a new word using one of these prefixes and define it.
- supersonic
- transatlantic
- submarine
- misunderstand
- preview
Answer and teacher notes
1. super- = above or beyond; supersonic = faster than the speed of sound. 2. trans- = across; transatlantic = crossing the Atlantic Ocean. 3. sub- = under; submarine = under the sea (marine = sea). 4. mis- = wrongly; misunderstand = understand incorrectly. 5. pre- = before; preview = see before.
Point out that knowing a handful of prefixes unlocks hundreds of words. Ask students to name another word for each prefix (superhero, transport, subway, mistake, prepay). Today is the anniversary of the first flight faster than sound, on October 14, 1947, so "supersonic" is a timely one.
Source: Britannica: Chuck Yeager
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