Being able to sort words by their shared prefixes and suffixes is an essential skill for any language student, but it can often seem like a difficult task. Fortunately, there are many fun and engaging activities that teachers can use to teach their students this important skill. Here are some ideas:

1. Word building: Give students a list of words with shared prefixes or suffixes and challenge them to use those word parts to build new words with different meanings. For example, if the prefix is “re-” and the base word is “act,” students might create words like “react,” “reinact,” and “retract.” This will help them understand how prefixes and suffixes can change the meaning of a word.

2. Word sort: Provide students with a list of words with shared prefixes or suffixes and ask them to sort the words into groups based on their meanings. For example, words with the prefix “un-” might be sorted into categories like “opposites,” “negativity,” and “reversals.” This will help students see how similar prefixes and suffixes can have different meanings.

3. Root word hunt: Challenge students to find words in a text that contain shared prefixes or suffixes. For each word, have them identify the root word and the meaning of the prefix or suffix. This will help them practice using context clues to understand the meaning of new words.

4. Memory game: Create a set of cards with words that contain shared prefixes or suffixes on them. Students can take turns flipping over two cards at a time and trying to match words with similar meanings. This will help them develop their vocabulary and memory skills.

5. Word wall: Create a word wall with shared prefixes and suffixes and their meanings. Encourage students to use the word wall as a reference when reading or writing. This will help them internalize the meanings of different prefixes and suffixes.

In conclusion, these activities can help students develop their understanding of shared prefixes and suffixes and enhance their vocabulary skills. Through word building, word sort, root word hunting, memory games and word wall, language teachers can make practical approaches to help students grasp the concept of sorting words with shared prefixes and suffixes by meaning.