Parts of Speech: Meaning, Types and Uses of Conjunctions for JSS 1

Class: JSS 1
Term: First Term
Week: 7
Age: 12 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: English Studies
Curriculum Theme: Grammatical Accuracy
Focal competence: ADVERBS, CONJUNCTIONS, PREPOSITIONS AND INTERJECTIONS: Identifying adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions and interjections
Skills:

• ADVERBS, CONJUNCTIONS, PREPOSITIONS AND INTERJECTIONS: Identifying adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions and interjections in texts

Previous Lesson: Reading Comprehension: In
Topic: Parts Of Speech: Adverbs, Conjunctions, Prepositions And Interjections
Subject Matter: meaning of conjunctions, types of conjunctions, uses of conjunctions

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils/students should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Explain the meaning and features of conjunctions.
• Identify the different types of conjunctions.
• State the uses of conjunctions in sentences.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of conjunctions in forming coherent sentences.
• Show willingness to use conjunctions correctly in their writing and speech.

Psychomotor Domain

• Formulate sentences using various types of conjunctions appropriately.
• Identify conjunctions in given texts.

Social Domain

• Collaborate with peers to identify and use conjunctions in group activities.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• A suitable English Studies textbook for JSS 1
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Audiobooks
• Interactive Videos
• Selected passages containing various conjunctions
• Pictorial aids illustrating sentences with conjunctions
• Whiteboard and markers
• Charts showing types of conjunctions

Rationale for the Lesson

Understanding conjunctions is fundamental to constructing grammatically correct and coherent sentences. This lesson helps students connect words, phrases, and clauses effectively, improving their overall communication skills in both written and spoken English. It builds a strong foundation for more complex sentence structures in the future.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have a basic understanding of other parts of speech such as nouns, pronouns, and verbs, and be able to identify simple sentences.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Parts Of Speech: Adverbs, Conjunctions, Prepositions And Interjections

Meaning of Conjunctions

A conjunction is a word that joins or links two words, phrases, clauses, or sentences together. It acts as a connector, helping to create more complex and coherent sentences.

Examples:

1. John and Mary are friends.
2. She ran fast but missed the bus.
3. I will go if you come with me.

Types of Conjunctions

There are three main types of conjunctions:

1. Coordinating Conjunctions: These join words, phrases, or independent clauses of equal grammatical rank. The most common coordinating conjunctions can be remembered with the acronym FANBOYS:
   1. For (reason)
   2. And (addition)
   3. Nor (negative alternative)
   4. But (contrast)
   5. Or (choice)
   6. Yet (contrast, similar to ‘but’)
   7. So (result)

   Examples:

   1. I like tea and coffee.
   2. He is rich, yet he is unhappy.
   3. She was tired, so she went to bed.
2. Subordinating Conjunctions: These connect a dependent (subordinate) clause to an independent (main) clause. They introduce the dependent clause and show the relationship between the two clauses (e.g., time, cause, condition, contrast).

   Common subordinating conjunctions include:

   1. After
   2. Although
   3. As
   4. Because
   5. Before
   6. If
   7. Since
   8. Though
   9. Unless
   10. Until
   11. When
   12. While

   Examples:

   1. I will call you when I arrive.
   2. She passed the exam because she studied hard.
   3. Although it was raining, we went for a walk.
3. Correlative Conjunctions: These are pairs of conjunctions that work together to join words or groups of words in a sentence.

   Common correlative conjunctions include:

   1. Both…and
   2. Either…or
   3. Neither…nor
   4. Not only…but also
   5. Whether…or

   Examples:

   1. Both John and Peter are coming.
   2. You can either stay or leave.
   3. She is not only intelligent but also kind.

Uses of Conjunctions

Conjunctions are used to:

1. Join words: “Bread and butter.”
2. Join phrases: “Over the river and through the woods.”
3. Join clauses: “He is smart, but he is lazy.”
4. Show relationships: They indicate relationships like cause and effect (e.g., “because,” “so”), contrast (e.g., “but,” “although”), time (e.g., “when,” “after”), and condition (e.g., “if”).

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Explanation, Question and Answer, Guided Practice, Individual Practice, Pair Work, Group Work.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Activating Prior Knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and reviews the concept of parts of speech, asking students to recall some parts of speech they already know. The teacher then introduces conjunctions as words that join other words or sentences.

Pupils’ Activity: Students respond to questions about parts of speech and listen attentively to the introduction of conjunctions.

Learning Point: Introduction to conjunctions

Step 2: Meaning of Conjunctions

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of conjunctions as linking words, phrases, or clauses. The teacher writes examples on the board and highlights the conjunctions.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen, ask questions for clarity, and identify conjunctions in the examples provided.

Learning Point: Definition of conjunctions

Step 3: Types of Conjunctions (Coordinating)

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Classification/Examples

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS), explaining their function to join elements of equal rank. The teacher provides sentences and asks students to identify the coordinating conjunctions.

Pupils’ Activity: Students identify coordinating conjunctions and try to form simple sentences using them.

Learning Point: Coordinating conjunctions identified

Step 4: Types of Conjunctions (Subordinating)

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains subordinating conjunctions, emphasizing their role in linking a dependent clause to an independent clause. The teacher gives examples showing relationships like time, cause, and condition.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen, observe the examples, and try to differentiate between independent and dependent clauses.

Learning Point: Subordinating conjunctions understood

Step 5: Types of Conjunctions (Correlative)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Paired Examples

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces correlative conjunctions as pairs that work together. The teacher provides examples like “both…and,” “either…or,” “neither…nor,” and “not only…but also.”

Pupils’ Activity: Students identify the pairs of correlative conjunctions in sentences and practice using them.

Learning Point: Correlative conjunctions recognized

Step 6: Uses of Conjunctions

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Application

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the various uses of conjunctions, such as joining words, phrases, and clauses, and showing relationships between ideas. The teacher provides a short passage and asks students to identify all the conjunctions and their uses.

Pupils’ Activity: Students identify conjunctions in the passage and explain their uses.

Learning Point: Conjunction uses demonstrated

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. What is a conjunction?
2. Mention two types of conjunctions and give an example for each.
3. Use the conjunction “but” in a sentence.
4. Identify the conjunction in the sentence: “She sings well, and she dances gracefully.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Conjunction understanding assessed

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on the meaning, types, and uses of conjunctions into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Conjunction notes recorded

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly reminds students of the importance of conjunctions in making their sentences clear and connected, encouraging them to practice using them.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and acknowledge the importance of conjunctions.

Learning Point: Lesson consolidated

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Complete the following tasks in your English notebook:

1. Define a conjunction in your own words.
2. List the three main types of conjunctions.
3. Write one sentence for each of the following conjunctions: “and”, “because”, “either…or”.
4. Underline the conjunctions in the following sentences:
   1. I wanted to go, but I was too tired.
   2. Since you are here, we can start the meeting.
   3. She is both smart and hardworking.

Lesson Keywords

• Conjunction – A word that joins words, phrases, or clauses.
• Coordinating – Joining elements of equal grammatical rank.
• Subordinating – Joining a dependent clause to an independent clause.
• Correlative – Pairs of conjunctions that work together.
• Link – To connect or join.
• Join – To bring together or unite.

Differentiation

For weaker learners, provide simpler sentences and focus primarily on coordinating conjunctions with plenty of oral practice. For faster learners, challenge them to identify conjunctions in more complex paragraphs or to write short paragraphs using a variety of conjunction types.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, students can search for “JSS 1 English conjunctions” on YouTube.

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, prepare several simple sentences and a short passage to use as examples for identifying and applying conjunctions. Ensure you have charts or a clear board space to list the types and examples. Begin by building on students’ existing knowledge of parts of speech to smoothly introduce conjunctions. When explaining types, use clear, distinct examples for coordinating, subordinating, and correlative conjunctions, emphasizing how each type functions. Encourage active participation through questions and guided practice. During the note-taking stage, ensure students copy the Board Summary accurately. Pay close attention to common errors, such as misusing conjunctions or confusing them with other parts of speech, and provide immediate corrective feedback. For students who grasp the concept quickly, encourage them to create their own complex sentences using different conjunctions. For those struggling, offer additional simplified examples and one-on-one support.