CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.1g

ELA1st GradeConventions of Standard English

The Standard

Use frequently occurring conjunctions (e.g., and, but, or, so, because).

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students connect words and complete thoughts to make clear sentences. They choose a joining word that shows addition, contrast, choice, result, or reason.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students choose a joining word that matches the relationship between ideas. They can combine two related thoughts into a clear sentence and explain why the word fits.
Common Misconceptions: Students may use “and” for every connection, even when the ideas contrast or show a reason. They may also write sentence fragments after “because” or confuse “so” with “because.”
How to Assess It: Give students five joining words: and, but, or, so, because. Ask them to complete: “I wore boots ___ it was raining,” then explain their choice.

Lesson moves

Give pairs sentence strips and conjunction cards, then have them build and read five sentences that make sense.
Ask students to write two sentences about recess, then combine them using a word that shows reason, choice, contrast, addition, or result.
Play Conjunction Match by having students pair two clause cards with the best card: and, but, or, so, or because.
Read classroom rule signs, then rewrite two rules with reasons, such as “Walk because the floor may be slippery.”

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.1g, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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