Teacher: read “One cat, two cats.” Which word means more than one cat?
- cat
- cats
- cuts
Explanation and discussion
Cats has the ending s, which shows more than one here. Cat is one; cuts is a different word.
Teacher: model the final s sound in cats.
Read the whole word: small endings can change its meaning.
What it is about
Read -s, -es, -ing, -ed, -er and -est in familiar words without untaught graphemes.
Year 1 · 5–6 years · 30 challenges
Before you begin
- Oral vocabulary, listening to stories and early sound awareness.
What the class will do
- Choose and explain · 30 challenges
Word endings
Read -s, -es, -ing, -ed, -er and -est in familiar words without untaught graphemes.
Using it in class
Use after teaching single-letter sounds, short vowels, sh ch ck ng qu ff ll ss zz, adjacent consonants and -s/-es/-ing/-ed/-er/-est. Teacher reads context and models root/ending sounds. All roots keep their spelling. Practise aloud; choices do not assess pronunciation.
Give everyone time to think and discuss before one pupil acts at the board. The class explains and confirms together; hints and explanations stay until you move on.
Use an up-to-date browser on a computer connected to a whiteboard or shared display. Touch, mouse and keyboard; optional audio and reduced motion. No pupil accounts or personal devices.
Choose from 5 challenges up to the full activity. Discussion determines the duration: you set the pace.
A look inside the activities
Teacher: read “Yesterday I jumped.” Which word has the ed ending?
- jumping
- jumped
- jumps
Explanation and discussion
Jumped is jump plus ed. The ed sounds like t here, but we still write both letters e and d.
Teacher: voice jumped without adding an extra beat.
Read “This is the grandest hall.” Which ending comes after grand?
- est
- er
- ed
Explanation and discussion
Grandest is grand plus est. The ending helps describe the hall as the most grand in this group.
Teacher: model grand-est, then read it smoothly.
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