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Conjunctions: Words That Join Ideas

Fifth graders learn conjunctions — joining words like and, but, because, and although — and how coordinating conjunctions link equal ideas while subordinating ones connect a main idea to a supporting one.

Grade 5Grammar50 minutes1 class periodReading WorkshopExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain what a conjunction is.
  • ✓Use coordinating conjunctions.
  • ✓Use subordinating conjunctions.
  • ✓Join ideas smoothly.
Essential Question

“I was tired. I finished my homework.” Two short sentences — but one little joining word can connect them smoothly. What are those joining words?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Sort It · Interactive

Which Kind of Conjunction?

Project this and sort each conjunction into coordinating (joins equal ideas) or subordinating (starts a supporting idea).

🔗 Sort each conjunction — which kind?Try it
⚖️ Coordinating (joins equals)
🔗 Subordinating (adds a reason/condition)
Tap a word, then tap a bucket.
The Lesson · Reading Workshop (Mini-Lesson · Practice · Share)

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Connect — Joining Ideas

5 min

“I was tired. I finished.” — what word could join these?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show two short sentences.
  • Ask how to join them.
  • Set the goal: conjunctions.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Read the sentences.
  • Find a joining word.
  • Predict the idea.
2

Teach — Two Kinds

12 min

Teacher models.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Coordinating joins equals (FANBOYS).
  • Subordinating adds a reason or condition.
  • Give examples.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Learn coordinating.
  • Learn subordinating.
  • Hear examples.
3

Active Engagement — Sort Together

13 min

Class uses Which Kind of Conjunction?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sort each conjunction.
  • Use it in a sentence.
  • Explain the join.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sort them.
  • Use one.
  • Explain it.
4

Practice — Practice

13 min

Students join ideas.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Join sentences with conjunctions.
  • Choose the right kind.
  • Write joined sentences.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Join sentences.
  • Choose the kind.
  • Write them.
5

Share — Share

5 min

Students share a sentence.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Invite a joined sentence.
  • Name the conjunction.
  • Hand out the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Share it.
  • Name it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.

CCSS
L.5.1a

Explain the function of conjunctions, prepositions, and interjections.

CCSS
L.5.1

Demonstrate command of standard English grammar.

CCSS
L.5.3a

Expand, combine, and reduce sentences for meaning and style.

CCSS
W.5.4

Produce clear and coherent writing.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Conjunction + example cards.
  • Sentence frame: “___ , because ___.”
  • Join with pictures.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with and, but, or.
  • Use two clear sentences.
  • Join one pair at a time.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Use correlative conjunctions.
  • Combine three ideas.
  • Vary conjunctions in writing.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🗂️Conjunction cards
  • 💻Which Kind of Conjunction?
  • 🖍️Pencils
  • 📚A short passage
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

conjunctiona word that joins words or ideascoordinatingjoins equal ideas (and, but, or)subordinatingadds a reason or condition (because, if)clausea group with a subject and verbjointo connectFANBOYSfor, and, nor, but, or, yet, socompound sentencetwo joined independent clausescomplex sentencea main clause plus a dependent one
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What does a conjunction do?
It joins words, phrases, or ideas together.
QUESTION 2
Is “but” a coordinating or subordinating conjunction?
Coordinating (it joins two equal ideas).
QUESTION 3
Join with a conjunction: It rained. We stayed inside.
Sample: It rained, so we stayed inside — or — Because it rained, we stayed inside.

Growing at home? Join the ideas.

Have families take two short sentences and join them with different conjunctions, noticing how the meaning changes. A printable conjunctions sheet is in the ELA library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 ConjunctionsFlip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 ConjunctionsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ ConjunctionsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: clause, complex sentence, compound sentence, conjunction, coordinating, FANBOYS, join, subordinating
  1. adds a reason or condition (because, if)
  2. for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
  3. a word that joins words or ideas
  4. to connect
  5. two joined independent clauses
  6. joins equal ideas (and, but, or)
  7. a main clause plus a dependent one
  8. a group with a subject and verb

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What does a conjunction do?
  2. Is “but” a coordinating or subordinating conjunction?
  3. Join with a conjunction: It rained. We stayed inside.
Answer key — Part A: 1) subordinating · 2) FANBOYS · 3) conjunction · 4) join · 5) compound sentence · 6) coordinating · 7) complex sentence · 8) clause
Part B: 1) It joins words, phrases, or ideas together. 2) Coordinating (it joins two equal ideas). 3) Sample: It rained, so we stayed inside — or — Because it rained, we stayed inside.