Crossword Puzzles for Teachers
Give students a vocabulary workout with fun crossword puzzles for kids created especially for the elementary classroom by the Teach Starter team of teachers!
This collection of crossword puzzle printables will help students practice 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 practice 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!
- 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!
- Set up crosswords as a bell-ringer activity to help students get ready for the day.
- Use the puzzles as a self-assessment tool.
- Assign crossword puzzles as part of a lesson or unit review.
- Allow students to work together to solve the clues as part of a teamwork exercise.
- And many, many more!
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Antonyms - Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle
Turn your language learners into vocabulary superstars with a fun antonym crossword puzzle.
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Halloween Crossword Puzzle
Start spooky season with a hauntingly horrific Halloween crossword puzzle.
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Animal Adaptations Crossword Puzzle
Use an Animal Adaptations Crossword puzzle to review concepts related to physiological, structural, and behavioral adaptations.
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Prefix Crossword Puzzle
Review vocabulary skills and boost your students’ knowledge of prefixes with a printable crossword puzzle for kids
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Synonym and Antonym Crossword Puzzle
Review vocabulary skills and boost your students’ knowledge of synonyms and antonyms with a crossword puzzle worksheet.
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2D and 3D Shapes Crossword with Solution
A crossword with clues for both 2D and 3D shapes.
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Homophones Crossword Puzzle
Challenge your students to complete this vocabulary crossword puzzle by completing the sentences with the correct homophone.
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Re- Prefix Crossword Puzzle
Review vocabulary skills and boost your students’ knowledge of the “Re-” prefix with a crossword puzzle worksheet.
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Energy and Electricity Crossword Puzzle
Reinforce science vocabulary with an energy and electricity crossword puzzle.
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Adverb Crossword – Worksheet
A crossword for students to review different adverbs.
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Physical Properties of Metals Crossword Puzzle
Review vocabulary and and various properties of metals with a printable science crossword puzzle.
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Summer Paralympic Games Crossword Puzzle
Boost vocabulary skills with a printable Paralympic Sports Crossword Puzzle.
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Compound Words Crossword Puzzle Pack
Boost vocabulary skills with a pack of printable Compound Word Crossword Puzzles!
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Rhetorical Devices Crossword
Familiarize your students with the most common rhetorical devices with an engaging crossword puzzle.
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Christmas Activity Printables - Holiday Puzzles
Have some word-friendly Christmas fun with a pack of printable Christmas word games for kids.
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Veterans Day Worksheets-Crossword Puzzle
Learn about Veterans Day at school and build vocabulary with a crossword puzzle.
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Electricity Crossword Puzzle
Review vocabulary for electricity concepts with a science crossword puzzle.
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Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition – Crossword Puzzle
Review science vocabulary terms associated with weathering, erosion, and deposition with a crossword puzzle.
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Magnetism Crossword Puzzle
Use this magnetism crossword puzzle to reinforce the scientific vocabulary related this noncontact force.
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Synonyms - Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle
Boost vocabulary skills with a fun synonym crossword puzzle.
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International Women’s Day Crossword Puzzle
Extend your students knowledge of influential women with this International Women’s Day crossword.
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Basketball Crossword
Start the month of March with a basketball championship crossword puzzle!
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Sloth Crossword Puzzle
Stretch your students’ vocabularies and reading skills with a sloth-themed crossword puzzle.
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Christmas Crossword Puzzle
Have a bit of holiday fun with a set of three Christmas Crossword Puzzles.
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Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources Crossword Puzzle
Reinforce science vocabulary with a renewable and nonrenewable resources crossword puzzle.
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World War I Crossword Puzzle
Review World War I ideas and vocabulary words with a crossword puzzle.
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Thanksgiving Crossword Puzzle
Treat your little turkeys to a bit of Thanksgiving fun with a Thanksgiving Crossword Puzzle.
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Water Cycle Crossword Puzzle
Review water cycle vocabulary with a crossword puzzle.
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American Revolution Crossword Puzzle
Review Revolutionary War vocabulary with a crossword puzzle.
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Colonial America Crossword Puzzle
Review Colonial America vocabulary with a crossword puzzle.
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The French and Indian War - Crossword Puzzle
Review French and Indian War vocabulary with a crossword puzzle.
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Lewis and Clark Expedition - Crossword Puzzle
Practice and review vocabulary associated with the Lewis and Clark Expedition using a crossword puzzle.