There are three sections in this resource:

Overview of the -ed Suffix with Unchanging Base Words
Video Demonstration
Teaching Tips

The estimated time to complete this resource is 15 minutes.

You may download and print the following documents by clicking the links below.

Lesson Plan
Lesson Materials
Word List
Video Transcript

The -ed suffix is added to verbs to indicate the past tense. The ability to understand the past tense meaning of -ed, as well as to hear, read, and spell it, will help students to comprehend a wide variety of text.

An example of an -ed suffix with an unchanging base word can be found in the word entertained.

The suffix -ed can be pronounced three ways: /ed/, as in rented; /d/, as in filled; and /t/, as in jumped.  Be sure to include all three pronunciations of -ed when teaching this concept. 

The -ed suffix occurs more frequently than all suffixes other than -s and -es.

The words in this video consist of base words that do not change when -ed is added to form the past tense of the verb. The video features activities that teach students the different pronunciations of the -ed suffix in words, how to read words with the -ed suffix, and the steps to follow when spelling words with an -ed suffix.

Click play on the video when you're ready to begin.

When familiarizing students with the past tense of words:

• Tell students the word.
• Say a sentence, using the present tense of the word.
• Have students complete a sentence by supplying the past tense of the word.
• Say the present and past tense of the word.
• Have students repeat the present and past tense of the word.

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