Introduce: The Prefix over-

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Lesson Type: Introduce
Grade: 2, 3
Length: 15 minutes
Goal: Given the prefix over-, students will generate and use words that contain over-.

Materials: Board or chart paper

What to Do


Write the prefix over- on the board or on a piece of chart paper for the students to see.


1. Introduce the prefix over- and solicit examples of words that contain over-.


2. Allow time for students to respond.

A prefix is a word part added to the beginning of a word. It changes the meaning of a word. Over- is a prefix that is used in many words. Overwork, overslept, and overdo are all words that have the prefix over- in them. Do you know of any other words that have the prefix over-?

3. As students share, write the responses on the board or on a piece of chart paper. Circle the prefix over- in each word as it is given.

4. Define the meaning of over-, as well as words containing the prefix over-.

Look at the list of words with the prefix over-. Who knows what over- means? Over- means “too much.” Look at overwork. Overwork means “to work too much.” When the prefix over- is added to work, it changes the meaning of the word. Can anyone tell us what overslept means? What about overdo?




When do you feel overworked?

Have you ever overslept?

Can anyone use overdo in a sentence?


For Advanced Students:


Explain how the parts of speech may change when a prefix is added. In the case of the prefix over-, however, both the root word and the word with the prefix added are verbs.

For Struggling Students:


  • over + work = overwork
  • over + react = overreact
  • over + do = overdo

For ELL Students:


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