Compound Words for First Grade: A Foundational List

Putting it simply, a compound word is made by putting two words together to form a single word. The resulting compound word may have a meaning that cannot be determined directly by examining the two original words.

Examples are:

• cupcake (cup + cake) - A small cake for a single serving, usually with icing on top.
• something (some + thing) - A thing that may not be entirely known.
• nowhere (no + where) - Not in any place.
• anybody (any + body) - Any person at all.

There are many compound words for first grade that students of that age can easily understand and enjoy working with. There are actually three types of compound words, but it's best to stick with closed compounds (two words that become a single word with no punctuation) with first graders. Focus on the basics; they can discover more complex compounds later.

Review a selection of basic compound words starting with the letters A-D.

Many additional basic compound words start with the letters E-L.

There are many basic compound words that start with the letters M - Z.

For a great teaching resource that's also a fun and cute handout, download the printable list of compound words. It features more than 500 compound words kids can start learning in first grade (and beyond!).

Compound words work really well in matching games. Children love finding matching pairs among the pile, and it also allows for some creativity in forming new words altogether. It's easy to make your own.

1. Choose a selection of compound words from the list above. (Five words per student is a good number to start with, though you may want to go with more or less.)
2. Cut cardstock paper in halves or quarters to form cards, or use index cards.
3. Print the individual words that join together to form the compound words on their own card. (For example, if you choose yardstick as one of the words, write "yard" on one card and "stick" on another.)
4. Assign students to work individually or in pairs, letting them know that their task is to match the cards to form five (or whatever number you are using) compound words.
5. Provide each student (or pair of students) with the appropriate cards.
6. When students have completed the task, have each student (or pair of students) call out their words. Then, lead the class in a discussion of the activity. Ask them to share what they found challenging, as well as what strategies they used.

In addition to the matching game above, you may be interested in some practice exercises to help teach compound words to children. The answers to these practice questions appear below the printable worksheet, which includes additional practice questions.

Choose the correct answer from the options below each sentence.

1. Which of the following words can be combined with "pony" to form a compound word?
   1. cake
      
   2. tail
   3. fish
2. Which word can be combined with "back" to form a compound word?
   1. yard
   2. quake
   3. fly
3. Which word can be combined with "grass" to form a compound word?
   
   1. pan
   2. grow
   3. hopper
4. Which word can be combined with "play" to form a compound word?
   1. ground
   2. earth
   3. tooth
5. Wich word can be combined with "jelly" to form a compound word?
   1. food
   2. fish
   3. rise

For even more practice exercises in worksheet form, download the printable worksheet below. It focuses on helping students learn to recognize and form compound words, along with an answer key. Activities include connecting words to form compound words, identifying word pairs that do and don't work as compound words and properly writing compound words.

The correct answers to the in-article practice items are listed below. The correct response is bold and the compound word appears in parentheses.

1. Which of the following words can be combined with "pony" to form a compound word?
   1. cake
      
   2. tail (ponytail)
   3. fish
2. Which word can be combined with "back" to form a compound word?
   1. yard (backyard)
   2. quake
   3. fly
3. Which word can be combined with "grass" to form a compound word?
   
   1. pan
   2. grow
   3. hopper (grasshopper)
4. Which word can be combined with "play" to form a compound word?
   1. ground (playground)
   2. earth
   3. tooth
5. Wich word can be combined with "jelly" to form a compound word?
   1. food
   2. fish (jellyfish)
   3. rise

One of the most important lessons you can teach first graders is that learning is fun! When helping them with understanding compound words, be sure that they're having a good time. This will pave the way for a lifelong love of learning. They'll be prepared to focus on compound nouns sooner rather than later. Compound verbs won't be far behind. Before long, they'll even be tackling compound sentences.