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Year 4

The /shun/ suffixes, including -cian

I can spell words using the suffix -cian.

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New
New
Year 4

The /shun/ suffixes, including -cian

I can spell words using the suffix -cian.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The /shun/ suffix can be spelt -tion, -sion, -ssion or -cian.
  2. Words ending in the suffix -cian are nouns and a profession.
  3. Words spelt with -cian often have a root word ending in ‘c’ or ‘cs’.
  4. How to spell the curriculum words: eighth, weight and knowledge.

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

Pupils spell the ending of professions 'cion'.

Focus on the difference between -ion and -ian endings. Say the word how it's spelt to reinforce this: mu -si -ci -an.


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

Present a variety of words ending in /shun/ suffixes and allow the pupils to spot all those which are professions, to reinforce this learning point.
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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:politician,cian
tick

cian

Correct Answer:exploration,tion
tick

tion

Correct Answer:disucussion,sion
tick

sion

Correct Answer:revision,sion
tick

sion

Q2.
Words spelt with -ssion often have a root word ending in which letters?
Correct answer: ss
t
Correct answer: mit
te
d
Q3.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the sentence: That was an interesting discushon.
discusion
Correct answer: discussion
discushun
Q4.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the sentence: You need purmishon to come on this trip.
permision
permition
Correct answer: permission
Q5.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the sentence: They saw a faymus artist at the museum.
famus
fameous
Correct answer: famous
famuous
Q6.
Write the correct spelling of the word in bold in this sentence: Try to imajin you are on a desert island.
Correct Answer: imagine

6 Questions

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

cian

Correct Answer:station,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?
Correct answer: c
mit
de
Correct answer: cs
ss
Q3.
Choose the correct spelling of the word in bold in the sentence: She was a skilful muzishon.
Correct answer: musician
musicion
musision
Q4.
Write the correct spelling of the word in bold in the sentence: Our lights have broken so I called an electrishun.
Correct Answer: electrician
Q5.
Write the correct spelling of the word in bold in the sentence: As there are 8 of us, we can each have one ayth of this cake.
Correct Answer: eighth
Q6.
Write the correct spelling of the word in bold in the sentence: What is the wait of this bag of apples in kg?
Correct Answer: weight

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