Year 5 - English
Spelling words using hard c
Etymology and prefixes
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn to investigate and spell words in English with Greek and Latin origins. Pupils also learn to spell polysyllabic words and words with a greater range of prefixes, like de-, re-, sub-, super-, inter- anti-, auto-, bi-, trans-, tele- and circum-.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to spell words using hard c.
Key Notes
- Soft c and hard c refer to two different sounds that the letter c can represent, depending on what follows it.
- If the vowel letters 'a', 'o' or 'u' or a consonant letter follows the letter c it is pronounced as a hard c.
- How to spell the curriculum words: calendar, occur and occupy.
Vocabulary To Learn
- soft c: sounds like 's' in words like 'city', 'cereal' or 'mercy'
- hard c: sounds like 'k' in words like 'cat', 'cup', 'coat or 'climb'
- vowel letters: the letters 'a', 'e', 'i', 'o', 'u' (and sometimes 'y') that represent vowel sounds
- consonant letters: all the letters in the alphabet that represent consonant sounds
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- It can be hard to identify the sounds a word makes when looking at the spelling.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Soft c and hard c refer to two different sounds that the letter c can represent, depending on what follows it. If the vowel letters 'a', 'o' or 'u' or a consonant letter follows the letter c it is pronounced as a hard c.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'soft c'
sounds like 's' in words like 'city', 'cereal' or 'mercy'.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: It can be hard to identify the sounds a word makes when looking at the spelling. Correction: Encourage children to listen to the word without looking at the spelling. Stretch the word and identify each sound in turn.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Spelling more polysyllabic words with unstressed vowels Study Guide
- Spelling polysyllabic words with unstressed vowels Study Guide
- Spelling words of Greek origin that use 'ch' to make a /k/ sound Study Guide
- Spelling words of Greek origin that use 'ph' to make a /f/ sound Study Guide
- Spelling words of Latin origin that use 'sc' to make a /s/ sound Study Guide
- Spelling words using soft c Study Guide
- Spelling words with the prefixes ad- and al- and hyphens Study Guide
- Spelling words with the prefixes bi-, trans-, tele- and circum- Study Guide
- Spelling words with the prefixes co-, pre-, pro- and sus- Study Guide
- Spelling words with the prefixes de-, re-, sub-, super-, inter-, anti- and auto- Study Guide
- Spelling words with the prefixes meaning not Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 5 English guide library.