Building Vocabulary
Flip & Match Boards
Designed to meet these objectives:
Language
• Students will develop vocabulary.
• Students will understand the meanings of prefixes and suffixes.
• Students will use knowledge of prefixes, suffixes, and root words to
determine meanings of words.
These ingenious flipboards are the perfect way to introduce or reinforce
prefixes, suffixes, and root words! Students simply choose a flipboard...
then search through the flips to match a word using a specific prefix,
suffix, or root word to its correct definition. Best of all, the flipboards
are self-checking, so students can build vocabulary independently!
What’s Included
• 3 self-checking flipboards
Introducing the Concept
Discuss the concept of prefixes or suffixes with the whole class. On
the board or on chart paper, make a list of words that begin with the
prefixes or end with the suffixes on the flipboard. Ask volunteers to
come up and circle the prefix or suffix in each word. Then, work with
the class to provide a definition for each one.
Using the Flip & Match Boards
Before letting students work with the flipboards on their own, model
their correct use. Show students how to select a prefix, suffix, or root
word at the top of the flipboard and then read its meaning. Then, use
the flips along the sides of the board to find words with that prefix,
suffix, or root word and the definitions that match.
(continued on back)
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FF334_Guide.indd 1
FF334
Ages 7+
Printed in China
9/19/08 1:20:10 PM
For example, with the prefix
“pre-,” students can flip to the
word “pretest” on the left side
of the board and the definition
“a practice test before a test”
on the right. Once students
have found all 3 words and their
matching definitions, they can
flip the prefix card over to check
their answers. Once students
understand how to use the
boards, ask them to do any of
the following:
• Set the flipboards at your reading center and have students visit the
center with a partner. Provide each pair with a lined piece of paper.
Ask them to use a flipboard to match the words and definitions, and
then record each word and definition on their paper. Have students
circle the prefix, suffix, or root word in each word they write.
• In small groups or with a partner, ask students to write all of the
words from the prefix flips—without the prefixes. Then, using the
flips at the top of the suffix board, have students try to add suffixes
to some of the words they wrote. Ask them to write the meaning of
each new word they create. This activity can also be reversed by using
the words from the suffix board (without the suffixes) and adding
prefixes.
Meeting Individual Needs
ELL: Give students a set of index cards and have them make flash cards
for the prefixes, suffixes, or root words by writing the prefix, suffix, or
root word on the front and the meaning on the back. Place the cards on
a ring for students to use as a reference tool. Encourage them to look
for these prefixes, suffixes, or root words during their daily reading, and
use the cards to help them remember the meaning of each.
Reteach/Extra Support: Meet with students in need of extra support
and complete the activity as a small group, guiding them toward
understanding. Afterward, have them repeat the activity on their
own. Allow students to work with partners to match the words and
definitions on the boards.
Challenge: Have students quiz each other using the definitions from
one of the flipboards. Challenge students to select a board and take
turns with a partner reading a definition from the board and prompting
the other person to guess the word.
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