Conjunctions may be tiny words, but they do some heavy lifting in sentences. Without them, our writing would sound choppy and robotic: I like pizza. I like pasta. I like tacos. (Yawn.) Throw in a conjunction and suddenly things flow: I like pizza, pasta, and tacos. Much better!
If you’re looking for ideas to make conjunctions come alive for your students, this post is full of classroom-tested strategies you can use tomorrow.
Teaching Conjunctions Video with Organizer
This video is a great overview of several rules about conjunctions. It includes definitions and examples for the following types with definitions and examples:
- Coordinating Conjunctions – FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
- Subordinating Conjunctions – because, although, while, if, since, etc.
- Correlative Conjunctions – pairs like either/or, neither/nor, both/and, not only/but also
The lesson pairs with a provided graphic organizer. Students listen to the first part of the video to hear the definition. When instructed to do so, students pause the video and complete their organizers. Finally, students watch the remainder of the video to check their answers.
Download free posters, the video organizer, and classroom handouts here.
More Teaching Conjunctions Activities
Activity #1 – Posters
This set of mini-posters may be displayed in the classroom during the lesson for students to use as a reference guide. These posters include word lists and definitions.
The website Teaching Ideas provides posters on conjunctions as well.
Activity #2 – Online Activities that Help Students Learn about Conjunctions
A few sites have interactive activities that make great practice during centers:
Here are a few links to help you find lessons and practice pages:
Activity #3 – Schoolhouse Rock – “Conjunction Junction”
Bring music into grammar instruction with the classic Schoolhouse Rock song “Conjunction Junction.” It’s catchy, packed with examples, and perfect for auditory learners.
Teaching Tip:
Have students write their own “Conjunction Rap” using examples from their writing journals. Perform them in small groups or record as a class podcast.
Activity #4 – Picture Books that Help Teach Conjunctions
Read portions of Fantastic! Wow! and Unreal! This book contains rhyming text and beautiful illustrations that students will enjoy as they learn about both conjunctions and interjections.
Another book you might like to check out is Just Me & 6,000 Rats: A Tale of Conjunctions by Rick Walton. This tongue-in-cheek story is sure to have students chuckling while they learn about various conjunctions. This book is a great way to introduce or hook readers before beginning a study of conjunctions.
Teaching Tip:
After reading, have students write a short scene using at least five conjunctions from the book. Illustrate and share!
Activity #5 – Game Ideas
1. FANBOYS Jenga
Write a FANBOYS word on each Jenga block. As students pull a block, they must use that conjunction in a complete sentence before stacking it on top. Knock the tower over? Everyone in the group makes one new sentence with a conjunction.
2. Conjunction Scavenger Hunt
Give students a short passage or picture book page. Challenge them to circle all the conjunctions and label them coordinating, subordinating, or correlative.
3. Sentence Surgery
Hand out “broken sentences” on slips of paper (e.g., I wanted to go to the game. It rained all night.). Students “stitch” them together with the right conjunction and share their “fixed” sentences with the class.
4. Conjunction Charades
Write conjunctions on slips of paper. Students act out the meaning while the class guesses the conjunction. Example: acting out eating pizza or a burger.
5. Conjunction “Connect Four”
Create a game board with sentence halves in each square. To claim a square, a student must connect the halves with the correct conjunction. First to four in a row wins
Activity #6 – Conjunction Anchor Chart
I love displaying anchor charts in the classroom. Students continually use them to reference rules and examples.
This anchor chart is loaded with information. It goes over the three types of conjunctions providing rules for each. The FANBOYS are listed as well as some common correlative conjunctions.
Adding sticky notes turns this anchor chart into an interactive activity. The sticky notes have example sentences with the conjunctions circled.
Activity #7 – Daily Conjunction Challenge
Post a sentence starter on the board every morning. Students finish the sentence using the conjunction of the day.
Starter: I wanted to read…
…but my brother was watching TV.
…so I went outside.”
…although it was raining.
Here are a few sentence starters to try:
- I forgot my homework…
- We planned a picnic…
- I saw a stray dog…
- She wanted to join the art club…
- They were building a treehouse…
- I opened the mystery book…
- We were baking cookies…
- He studied for the test…
Download free posters, the video organizer, and classroom handouts here.
Conjunctions may be small, but they pack a big punch in student writing. Whether you’re building anchor charts together, laughing through a mentor text, or playing FANBOYS Jenga, the goal is simple: help students see how conjunctions glue their ideas together.
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2 comments
This is very helpful. Thank you for giving me some kind of direction to teach conjunctions.
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