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Year 4

All of the /shun/ suffixes, including -tion, -cian, -sion and -ssion

I can spell words using all the /shun/ suffixes.

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New
New
Year 4

All of the /shun/ suffixes, including -tion, -cian, -sion and -ssion

I can spell words using all the /shun/ suffixes.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The most common spelling of the /shun/ suffix is -tion and these words often have a root word ending in ‘t’ or ‘te’.
  2. Words spelt with -sion often have a root word ending in ‘d’, ‘de’ or ‘se’ and can sound like /zhun/.
  3. Words spelt with -ssion often have a root word ending in ‘ss’ or ‘mit’.
  4. Words spelt with -cian often have a root word ending in ‘c’ or ‘cs’ and are used for professions.
  5. How to spell the curriculum words: potatoes, minute and breath.

Keywords

  • Noun - a naming word for a person, place or thing

  • Root word - the base word from which other words are formed often by adding prefixes or suffixes

  • Suffix - a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning

Common misconception

Children may not know the meaning of some words reviewed, such a 'precision' or 'beautician'.

Explain the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary by giving a simple definition and applying in the context of a sentence.


To help you plan your year 4 english lesson on: All of the /shun/ suffixes, including -tion, -cian, -sion and -ssion, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Spend time matching root words to the nouns ending in a /shun/ suffix in order to help make connections between the words, which will, in turn, support spelling.
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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the word to the spelling of the /shun/ suffix it contains.
Correct Answer:optician,cian
tick

cian

Correct Answer:fraction,tion
tick

tion

Correct Answer:permission,ssion
tick

ssion

Correct Answer:revision,sion
tick

sion

Q2.
Words spelt with -cian often have a root word ending in which letters?
ss
te
t
Correct answer: c
Correct answer: cs
Q3.
Nouns which are professions are often represented using which spelling of the /shun/ suffix?
tion
sion
ssion
Correct answer: cian
Q4.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the sentence. He was a skillful muzishon.
Correct Answer: musician
Q5.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the sentence. Our television has broken so I called an electrishun.
electrishun
electrision
electrition
Correct answer: electrician
electricain
Q6.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the sentence. We were amazed when the majishun pulled a rabbit out of a hat.
Correct Answer: magician

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the spelling of the /shun/ suffix to the clue that helps us spell it.
Correct Answer:tion,root words end in t or te (the most common)
tick

root words end in t or te (the most common)

Correct Answer:sion,root words end in d, de or se (can sound like /zhun/)
tick

root words end in d, de or se (can sound like /zhun/)

Correct Answer:ssion,root words end in ss or mit
tick

root words end in ss or mit

Correct Answer:cian,root words end in c or cs (professions)
tick

root words end in c or cs (professions)

Q2.
Match the word beginning to the correct word ending to ensure each word is spelt correctly.
Correct Answer:revi,sion
tick

sion

Correct Answer:musi,cian
tick

cian

Correct Answer:dona,tion
tick

tion

Q3.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the sentence. We must take akshun now.
Correct Answer: action
Q4.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the sentence. There was no diskushun about the event.
Correct Answer: discussion
Q5.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the sentence. The mathmetishan could solve very complex problems.
Correct Answer: mathematician
Q6.
Correct the spelling of the word in bold in the sentence. Her dessishun was final.
Correct Answer: decision

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