Sentences, word parts & reasoning
One connected thread today: name the word types, use them to build and map sentences, then carry word parts and patterns into the reasoning blocks.
Word types→
Sentence structure→
Verbal & non-verbal reasoning
1
Warm-up — word types
Bring back last week's word types. They're the parts we'll build sentences from today.
~8 min
Run it
- Quick-fire the word types below. Keep it fast and low-stakes — this is retrieval, not re-teaching.
- Offer the cubes: one cube per word type, sort a few example words into piles if it helps.
Student
Name the word type
Read the word aloud, then pick its type.
—
Tutor tip
- If a type is shaky (adverbs trip most pupils), note it — it'll matter when you find verbs in Block 2.
Why first: you can't find the subject of a sentence without spotting the noun and the verb — so this sets up Block 2 directly.
2
Sentence anatomy
Map a sentence: find the verb, then the subject (who's doing it) and the object (who it's done to). Then join two ideas with a subordinating conjunction.
~32 min
Run it
- Tag sentences: subject, verb, object. Talk through the question each time.
- Combine two ideas with a subordinating conjunction; find the part that can't stand alone.
Student
Tag the sentence
subject
verb
object
Student
Join two ideas
Pick a subordinating conjunction and watch the two ideas become one sentence. The subordinate clause shows in violet.
Choose a conjunction above…
Reference
Two kinds of joining word
Coordinating — joins equals
FANBOYS
for · and · nor · but · or · yet · so. Both halves could stand alone.
Subordinating — adds a dependent idea
ISAWAWABUB / “A WHITE BUS”
because · although · when · while · if · since · after · before · until · unless · as. Starts a clause that can't stand alone.
Tutor tips
- Subject: ask “who or what is doing the verb?” Object: ask “who or what receives the action?”
- Common slip: the subject isn't always the first word, and isn't always a person or thing you can see.
- Test a subordinate clause by reading it on its own — if it leaves you hanging, it's subordinate.
Builds on: Block 1's word types. Feeds: reading comprehension and their own writing.
3
Prefixes & suffixes
Break words into parts. Knowing affixes grows vocabulary, helps decode unfamiliar words — and is a direct edge in the verbal reasoning block.
~17 min
Run it
- Match affixes to their meanings.
- Explore how a root word changes with prefixes and suffixes, then make words to fit a meaning.
Student
Match the affix to its meaning
Tap an affix, then tap its meaning.
Affix
Meaning
Student
Build word families
Pick a root, then tap a word in its family to see the parts and meaning.
Tutor tips
- Start from words they know (happy → unhappy → happiness) so the pattern is obvious before harder roots.
- Link back to last session's “unfamiliar words” strategy: spot a part you know, infer the rest.
Feeds Block 5: Make a Word and cloze questions reward exactly this affix knowledge.
4
Brain break
Two hours is long — a short reset keeps the second half sharp.
~5 min
Five minutes off-screen: stretch, water, a quick stand-up. If they fancy a puzzle, hand them the cubes and ask them to copy a small shape, then make its mirror image — a gentle warm-up for the non-verbal block coming next.
5
Verbal reasoning
Language puzzles. Lead with word-part question types to cash in Block 3, then meaning and relationships.
~23 min
Focus types, in order
Make a Word
Hidden Words
Synonyms & antonyms
Analogies
Practise on
Tutor tips
- Teach a method per type, not just the answer. Make a Word / Hidden Words: scan systematically, left to right.
- Analogies: say the relationship out loud — “X is to Y as ___ is to ___.”
Reuses Block 3: point out that breaking words into parts is the same move these questions reward.
6
Non-verbal reasoning
Shapes and patterns. Lead with the spatial types — the same skills as last week's cubes — then grids.
~23 min
Focus types, in order
Rotation
Reflection
Folding paper (nets)
Dice
Matrices
Odd one out
Practise on
Sen
Seneca — Non-Verbal ReasoningShort notes then interactive questions, type by type.
OPEN ↗
EQ
Education Quizzes — NVR~50 quizzes: rotation, reflection, matrices, odd one out, series.
OPEN ↗
11+
11PluseHelp — NVRRotation, mirror image, dice, folding paper, matrices.
OPEN ↗
Geo
GeoGebra 3DFold a net on screen to show which faces end up opposite.
OPEN ↗
Tutor tips
- Physical before abstract: do rotation and reflection with the cubes or your hands first, then on screen.
- For nets, the key question is “which faces end up opposite each other?” — fold one in GeoGebra to prove it.
Reuses last week: the cubes work is the same spatial skill these questions test.
7
Wrap-up & take-home
Tie the thread together out loud, then set one light take-home.
~7 min
Run it
- Say the thread: word types → building sentences (subject / object / clauses) → using word parts and patterns to reason.
- Ask them for one example of each from today.
- Agree the take-home (all screen or spoken — no printing needed).
Student
Quick confidence check
Tap a light for each — useful to compare next week.
Take-home (no printer)
- At dinner, pick one sentence and ask: who's doing the action, and who/what is it done to?
- Spot two prefixes or suffixes on signs or packaging — what does each part tell you?
- One short go each on the verbal and non-verbal sites above.