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.

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The kind of sentences you'll get

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

  1. The sky was gray, no rain fell. but · and · or

    Answer: but

  2. Does your cat like fish ham best? or · but · and
  3. The hen sat kept her eggs warm. or · but · and

Every print pulls a fresh set of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling never gets the same sheet.

What's on each sheet

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 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.

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Aligned to Common Core L.1.1.g. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 137, updated August 2026.

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