What are they?
Inflectional endings are those groups of letters that are added to the end of a word. These endings change the meaning of the words. We are following the Katelyn’s Progression for this. There is a particular order as to which inflectional endings should be taught initially. Please follow the link (insert link here-phonic Progression). Some examples are:
| -s | bat | bats |
| -es | mix | mixes |
| -ing | snow | snowing |
| -ed | peck | pecked |
Why?
Inflectional endings are important as they function as an indication when words change from one grammatical category to another. The base words change their meaning when inflectional endings are added. It creates a new word along with a new meaning.
How do we start about?
The teacher can start off by introducing the learners to inflectional endings. How grammar categories change on the addition of inflectional endings. For example, you can write the word ‘play’ on the blackboard. Using another color chalk, write ‘-ing’ at the end of it. The word becomes ‘playing’. Now use another color chalk and write ‘-ed’ at the end of play. The new word is ‘played’. Explain it to the learners how this shift is taking place.
What are the few examples of Inflectional Endings?
| -s | makes a noun mean “more than one” |
| -es | makes a noun mean “more than one” |
| -ing | means an action is happening now |
| -ed | means an action already happened |
-Make a Chart
How the words undergo change with the usage of inflectional endings. Make a chart with rows and columns. You can make this with the help of learners. Put this up in the classroom and make the learners see how the words change.
Examples:
Games:
-Make New Words
Given below is a simple worksheet where the learners have to fill in the blank spaces using inflectional endings. Instruct the learners to say the base word and newly formed words out loud.
Spelling Test
Give the learners a spelling test using this link.The word with the inflectional ending is uttered and the learner has to recognize it and identify the inflectional ending used.
-The Apple Tree Game
The teacher can make two big trees on card paper and make apple cutouts. Several words are written on the apples. The words should belong to two categories –past tense and present tense verbs. Make the learners attach the apples on the appropriate apple trees.
Online Games:
A game for inflectional endings called ‘base word baseball’. The game is like an online baseball game where the animated animal characters are playing baseball and the player has to choose the appropriate inflectional endings to make a new word.
A game by QUIA for inflectional endings words practice. The game is in a simple fill in the blanks format. The correct answers will earn points to the player. The teacher can ask the learners to complete the sentence using all the given options. This trial and error method helps to find the accurate answer.
A spelling test by spell zone where the learner has to recognize the word. The word with the inflectional ending is uttered and the learner has to recognize it and identify the inflectional ending used.
Videos:
- This video is by eSpark Learning Videos from YouTube. This can be played in class and the learners need to repeat the inflected words. the narrator in the video also forms sentences with the new words in order to understand better.
2. A song for the inflectional ending ‘-ed’ by Learn Through Lyrics on YouTube. It is in a musical format where young learners are actors. They explain how adding ‘-ed’ to words changes the words.
3. A link to a video ‘Inflectional Endings: Definition & Examples’ by study.com. This is an introductory video which has elaborated the concept of inflectional endings along with examples.
References:
https://www.mheonline.com/ccssehandbook/grade1/ccslh_g1_fs_i_3_3a_l7.html
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