Suffixes: -ful and -less
I can correctly form words using the suffixes -ful and -less.
Suffixes: -ful and -less
I can correctly form words using the suffixes -ful and -less.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- A suffix is a letter or group of letters at the end of a word which creates another word.
- The words start with a lead in and finish with a lead out.
- The pencil does not lift when forming the join, only after to add the cross to a t or a dot to an i or a j.
- There are four cursive joins.
- The join used depends on which letter is joining to which letter within a letter string.
Keywords
Suffix - a letter or group of letters at the end of a word which creates another word
Join - how the letters are connected together
Letter string - a group of letters that are written together in a word
Lead in - the stroke or line that guides us into starting a letter
Lead out - the stroke or line that guides us to smoothly finish a letter
Common misconception
The cursive formation of the letter f, with the lead in and lead out loop, can be challenging for students.
When modelling, ensure to include examples of words with the letter f at the beginning of the word and in the middle. Remind pupils that the letter f is the only letter in the alphabet with an ascender and a descender, therefore two loops.
To help you plan your year 3 english lesson on: Suffixes: -ful and -less, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 3 english lesson on: Suffixes: -ful and -less, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 english lessons from the Letter strings unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions









first join - baseline to x-height line
second join - baseline to ascender line
third join - x-height line to x-height line
fourth join - x-height line to ascender line