Make Masterful Readers With Our Suffix Activity

Sufferin’ suffixes! 

We’re powerless to stop your students’ enjoyment of this activity as they become skillful, knowledgeable readers.   

To play Suffix Dominoes, students will take turns matching each side of the dominoes to pair root words to their applicable suffixes. 

For example, if a player were to lay down the “-able | pay” domino, the next player could lay down the “read” root word domino on the left, or a domino with the “ment” suffix on the right, and say the new prefix word as they lay their piece down. Gameplay continues in this manner until all of the dominoes are gone. 

The suffixes students will match to root words are:

• -less
• -ment
• -able
• -ful

Scaffolding + Extension Tips 

Support students who need help understanding the concepts by providing visuals like an anchor chart or affixes poster. 

Challenge fast finishers who understand the concepts to write sentences with suffix words. They can also define the meaning of the suffix, root word, and the new word. 

Get our 10 Best Scaffolding Strategies here! 

Plus 3 More Ways to Use This Suffix Activity 

We created this resource for your reading center as an independent practice activity. We also suggest using it to reinforce your small group and full-class lessons in the following ways: 

🔗 Suffix Word Chain (Scoot Activity)

Provide each student in your class with a domino. Challenge the students to find their other halves, creating one long chain of dominoes. Ask the students to complete the task in silence for an extra challenge!

👯‍♀️ Odd Man Out

Place three cards at each station, making sure two cards form a matching suffix word set, and the 3rd card doesn’t belong. Student pairs will rotate through each station and identify the new words, writing their answers on a separate sheet of paper. 

🃏 Upcycle Into Playing Cards

When students no longer want to play dominoes, turn this game into a deck of cards! Break out your scissors and cut the dominoes in half. Students can play games like Match It, Go Fish, or Snap, to name a few. 

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Print on cardstock for added durability and longevity. Place all pieces in a folder or large envelope for easy access. 

Before You Download

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the PDF or Google Slides version of this resource. An answer key is also included with this download.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and Teach Starter Collaborator. 

Fill your lesson plans and reading center with even more resources to practice affixing suffixes: 

teaching resource

Suffixes Puzzles Matchup Cards

Practice building, reading, and understanding the meaning of words with suffixes with a fun set of suffix puzzles.

teaching resource

Prefixes and Suffixes Slide Deck

Help your students determine the meanings of prefixes and suffixes with an instructional slide deck.

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Four In A Row Vocabulary Game - Suffixes

Practice matching words to their common suffixes and build vocabulary with a suffix vocabulary game.