Which joining words should a 1st grader know?

And, but, and or cover nearly everything a first grader says and reads. And adds more, but introduces a surprise, or offers a choice. So and because join the party in later grades once these three are automatic.

How can I practice this away from the worksheet?

Sentence tennis at dinner: you start (I like peas...), your child finishes with a joiner (...but I love corn). Speech is where these words live; the worksheet just makes the choosing visible.

1st grade coordinating conjunctions

1st grade coordinating conjunctions worksheets

And, but, and or are joining words: they connect two ideas into one sentence. First graders pick the joiner that fits, learning that and adds, but flips, and or offers a choice.

Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core L.1.1.g.

Each print is a different sheet with its own answer key. You don't need to sign up.

The kind of sentences you'll get

Circle the letter of the joining word that fits the sentence.

Dad washed dried the cups. or · and · but
Answer: and
Does your cat like fish ham best? or · and · but
Leo was fast, the bus was faster. but · nor · or

Every print pulls a new set of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different mix.

What's on a 1st grade sheet

1st grade sheets draw from 60 sentences, 10 to a page. None of these sentences are on 2nd grade sheets. 2nd grade sheets print 8 to a page.

A few of the sentences:

We ate ham and eggs for lunch.
We dug a hole and filled it with sand.
Dan kicked the ball, but it missed the net.

Choose the word. Circle the letter of the joining word that fits the sentence. 10 questions per page.

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.

How to teach this

Anchor each word to a gesture: and stacks two fists together, but flips a palm over, or holds out two open hands to choose between. Read the sentence aloud with each option and let your child hear which one the sentence wants. Their ear knows before the rule does.

Watch for: The conjunctions aren't interchangeable: 'I fell and I laughed' tells a different story than 'I fell, but I laughed'. Because is a joining word too, but it isn't a coordinating conjunction. The core set here is and, but, or, so, yet.

Common questions about 1st grade coordinating conjunctions

Which joining words should a 1st grader know?: And, but, and or cover nearly everything a first grader says and reads. And adds more, but introduces a surprise, or offers a choice. So and because join the party in later grades once these three are automatic.
How can I practice this away from the worksheet?: Sentence tennis at dinner: you start (I like peas...), your child finishes with a joiner (...but I love corn). Speech is where these words live; the worksheet just makes the choosing visible.

Related worksheets

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Aligned to Common Core L.1.1.g. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 241, updated October 2026.

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