Cut out a number of homemade cards and bring them into your special education class. Put the blank cards to the side and prepare a list of prefixes and suffixes. Show this list to your students and discuss the purpose and meaning of each. After this is done, write each prefix and suffix onto different blank cards, shuffle them and turn them over. Reveal them to the class one at a time. The first student to shout out a word that can be used correctly with the prefix or suffix holds the card. The student with the most cards at the end of the game wins.
Prepare this game by marking sticky notes with suffixes, prefixes and root words. Before you move on to the next step, make sure each word has one match, for example, "under/stand" or "rest/less." Put all the marked sticky notes in a box or a bucket and ask each student to pick one out and stick it to his or her top. Ask the students to spread out and mingle before asking them to look for a partner with a compatible word to form something new. The first partnership to form a sensible word wins.
Start by labeling square blocks with prefixes and suffixes and rectangular blocks with root words. The aim of the game is for students to build a wall using these word blocks. The condition is that each row of "bricks" is required to form a word, using the suffixes, prefixes and root words labelled on the side of each block. For example, a row of three blocks might make the base, with the word "under-stand-able." Students should be asked to build on the wall as they wish, expanding and reorganizing it.
Prepare a number of root words before class, while deciding on specific prefixes and suffixes that can be matched. Present the list of root words to the students in your class. Ask each student to choose one word. Ask each student to choose a word and provide his or her definition. After all students have a word, present them with the list of prefixes and suffixes. Have them make a choice in turns, forming a new word from the root word and providing a new definition.