Root Words and Endings Activity
This Root Words and Endings activity has kindergarten and 1st grade students sort ping pong ball word cards by -s, -ed and -ing and find each root word, with a practice page and answer key included.
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About this resource
Description
When young readers spot the root word inside a longer word, words like looked and fishing become easy to read. This Root Words and Endings activity helps kindergarten and 1st grade students find the endings -s, -ed and -ing and the root word that is left when the ending comes off.
In Root Words and Endings, children read 12 ping pong ball word cards and sort each one onto the paddle that matches its ending: -s, -ed or -ing. Every card uses a different root word, and every ending is added without any spelling change, so children can cover the ending and read the root word right away. On the last sort mat they write the root word for each card. Print the cards and mats one-sided and make a few straight cuts on the dashed lines. A 1st grade practice page asks students to put a root word and an ending together and write the new word.
What’s Included
- A colorful cover page
- A How to Use page with simple steps and prep tips
- 12 ping pong ball word cards
- Two paddle sort mats for -s, -ed and -ing, with a write-the-root-word section
- A 1st grade practice worksheet: root word + ending = new word
- A card and sort mat answer key and a practice answer key
Why This Activity Helps Kids
- Sorting by ending trains children to look at the end of a word, not just the beginning.
- Finding the root word gives young readers a strategy for reading longer words on their own.
- Building new words shows how one root word can make many words, like look, looks, looked and looking.
Ideas for Teachers and Parents
Use this kindergarten word endings activity at a literacy center, in a small reading group or as a partner game. Ask children to act out each word as they sort it, or to say one more word for every paddle. Send the practice page home for extra review. Come back to this Root Words and Endings activity whenever students need fun practice with root words and inflectional endings.
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