Sentence Starters for Kindergarten: Examples and Worksheets

Sentence starters for kindergarten are simple words or phrases that help young children begin writing or speaking in full sentences. If you’re a parent or teacher, you know that starting a sentence can be the hardest part for little learners. That’s where sentence starters come in—they give kids a helpful push so they can express their thoughts with confidence.

In this blog post, you’ll learn what sentence starters are, see many examples, and discover fun ways to teach them. Whether your child is just beginning to write or needs more practice, this article will give you practical tools and ideas to support early writing skills.

What Are Sentence Starters for Kindergarten?

Sentence starters for kindergarten are short phrases or words that help children begin a sentence easily. They act like a “jumping-off point” for ideas.

Simple Definition:

A sentence starter is the first word or phrase in a sentence that helps you begin writing.

Examples:

• I like → I like apples.
• I see → I see a dog.

These starters help children focus on finishing the sentence instead of worrying about how to begin.

Types of Sentence Starters for Kindergarten

1. “I” Starters

These help children talk about themselves.

Examples:

• I like
• I see
• I have
• I can
• I want
• I feel
• I am
• I hear
• I go
• I love

2. “My” Starters

These help children describe things that belong to them.

Examples:

• My mom
• My dad
• My friend
• My toy
• My house
• My dog
• My school
• My teacher
• My bag
• My book

3. “The” Starters

These help describe objects or animals.

Examples:

• The cat
• The dog
• The sun
• The bird
• The car
• The tree
• The boy
• The girl
• The ball
• The flower

4. Question Starters

These help children ask questions.

Examples:

• What is
• Where is
• Who is
• Why is
• Can you
• Do you
• Is it
• How do
• When is
• Will you

5. Action Starters

These focus on actions and activities.

Examples:

• Let’s go
• I am going
• We are playing
• I am running
• I am eating
• I am reading
• I am drawing
• We are singing
• I am jumping
• I am writing

Examples of Sentence Starters for Kindergarten

Here is a large list of sentence starters for kindergarten organized by category:

Basic Sentence Starters

• I like
• I see
• I have
• I am
• I can
• I want
• I feel
• I hear
• I go
• I love

Family and Friends

• My mom
• My dad
• My brother
• My sister
• My friend
• My teacher
• My family
• My cousin
• My grandma
• My grandpa

Animals and Nature

• The dog
• The cat
• The bird
• The cow
• The horse
• The sun
• The moon
• The tree
• The flower
• The fish

School and Daily Life

• At school
• In class
• I read
• I write
• I draw
• I play
• I learn
• I sit
• I listen
• I share

Actions and Activities

• I am running
• I am jumping
• I am eating
• I am playing
• I am reading
• I am writing
• I am drawing
• I am singing
• I am dancing
• I am walking

Question Starters

• What is
• Where is
• Who is
• Why is
• Can I
• Do you
• Is this
• How do
• When is
• Will you

How to Teach Sentence Starters for Kindergarten

1. Use Visual Prompts

Show pictures and ask children to complete sentences:

• “I see a ___.”

2. Practice Daily Speaking

Encourage kids to speak in full sentences using starters.

3. Sentence Building Games

Use flashcards with starters and nouns to mix and match.

4. Writing Worksheets

Give simple worksheets where kids fill in blanks.

5. Model Sentences

Say sentences out loud and have children repeat them.

Worksheet Idea:

• “I like ___.” (Draw and write)
• “The ___ is ___.” (Describe objects)

Sentence Starters for Kindergarten Worksheets with Answers

Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences using your own words.

1. I like ________.
2. I see a ________.
3. I have a ________.
4. My mom is ________.
5. The dog is ________.

✅ Answers (Sample):

1. I like apples.
2. I see a cat.
3. I have a toy.
4. My mom is kind.
5. The dog is big

Complete the Sentence.

Use the sentence starter to finish the sentence.

1. I can ________.
2. I am ________.
3. My friend is ________.
4. The cat is ________.
5. I feel ________.

✅ Answers (Sample):

1. I can run.
2. I am happy.
3. My friend is funny.
4. The cat is soft.
5. I feel good.

3: Match the Sentence Starter

Match Column A with Column B.

✅ Answers:

1 → a
2 → b
3 → c
4 → d
5 → e

Choose the Correct Ending

Circle the correct word.

1. I like (run / apples)
2. The cat is (blue / soft)
3. My dad is (happy / jump)
4. I am (play / tired)
5. The sun is (bright / sleep)

✅ Answers:

1. apples
2. soft
3. happy
4. tired
5. bright

Make Your Own Sentence

Use the sentence starter and write a full sentence.

1. I like → __________________________
2. My friend → _______________________
3. The dog → ________________________
4. I can → __________________________
5. I am → __________________________

✅ Answers (Sample):

1. I like milk.
2. My friend is nice.
3. The dog is brown.
4. I can jump high.
5. I am happy.

Related Articles:

• Sentence Starters for A Summary
• 100+ Sentences for Grade 1
• Sentences for Grade 2 with PDF