Crossword Puzzles for Teachers

Give students a vocabulary workout with fun crossword puzzles for kids created especially for the primary classroom by the Teach Starter team of teachers!

This collection of crossword puzzle printables will help students practise their vocabulary words, and many can be used online with students in Google Classroom and other learning management systems. Although they're made up of boxes, this classroom teacher tool can literally help students think outside of it!

Students improve problem-solving as they retrieve words from memory and practise spelling to answer the various crossword clues.

Looking for fresh ways to use crossword puzzles in the classroom? Read on for a primer from our teacher team!

What Is a Crossword Puzzle? A Kid-Friendly Definition

Surely you've seen your fair share of crossword puzzles over the years, but how do you explain them to your students? Here's a kid-friendly definition!

A crossword puzzle is a word game that is made up of a grid of squares. Each square represents a letter of a word. The goal is to fill in the grid by solving clues that give hints for the words. The words intersect both vertically and horizontally.

How Do You Use Crossword Puzzles in the Classroom?

Looking for new ways to use crossword puzzles in the classroom? These tools help students with everything from vocabulary development to critical thinking skills, spelling practice to contextual learning, and let's face it — they're fun!

Here are some tips from our teacher team!

1. Use crosswords as a motivational tool. Did you know research shows this handy word game can help students build their confidence in their literacy skills? Use that to your advantage — and to your students' too!
2. Set up crosswords as a morning activity to help students get ready for the day.
3. Use the puzzles as a self-assessment tool.
4. Assign crossword puzzles as part of a lesson or unit review.
5. Allow students to work together to solve the clues as part of a teamwork exercise.
6. And many, many more!