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!
- 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 morning 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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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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Christmas Crossword Puzzles
Have a bit of holiday fun with a set of three Christmas crossword puzzles.
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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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Weathering, Erosion and Deposition – Crossword Puzzle
Review science vocabulary terms associated with weathering, erosion and deposition with a crossword puzzle.
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Scientific Method Crossword Puzzle
Use a Scientific Method crossword puzzle to review key vocabulary words surrounding science inquiry.
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Rocks and Minerals Crossword Puzzle
Use a Rocks and Minerals Crossword puzzle to review key science vocabulary.
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Persuasive Devices Crossword
Familiarise your students with the most common persuasive devices with an engaging crossword puzzle.
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Animal Adaptations Crossword Puzzle
Use an Animal Adaptations Crossword puzzle to review physiological, structural, and behavioural adaptation concepts.
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Water Cycle Crossword Puzzle
Review water cycle vocabulary with a crossword puzzle.
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Basketball Crossword
Use this basketball-themed crossword as a fast finisher activity.
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International Women’s Day Crossword
Extend your students' knowledge of influential women with this International Women’s Day crossword.
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Celebrations Crossword Puzzle – Worksheet
A crossword puzzle about holidays and celebrations.
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2D Shapes and 3D Objects Crossword with Solution
A crossword with clues for both 2D shapes and 3D objects.
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Summer Paralympic Games Crossword Puzzle
Boost vocabulary skills with a printable Paralympic Sport Crossword Puzzle.
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Electricity Crossword
Review vocabulary for electricity concepts with a science crossword puzzle.
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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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Magnetism Crossword Puzzle
Use this magnetism crossword puzzle to reinforce the scientific vocabulary related this non-contact force.
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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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Adverb Crossword – Worksheet
A crossword where all the answers are adverbs.
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Proper Nouns Crossword Puzzle - Worksheet
A crossword researching different proper nouns.
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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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Physical Properties of Metals Crossword Puzzle
Review vocabulary and and various properties of metals with a printable science crossword puzzle.
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Energy and Electricity Crossword Puzzle
Reinforce science vocabulary with a free energy and electricity crossword puzzle.
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Prefix Crossword Puzzle Worksheet
Review vocabulary skills and boost your students’ knowledge of prefixes with a printable crossword puzzle.
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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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Synonyms - Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle
Boost vocabulary skills with a fun synonym crossword puzzle.
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Sloth Crossword Puzzle
Stretch your students’ vocabularies and reading skills with a sloth-themed crossward puzzle.
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Halloween Crossword Puzzle
Stretch your upper years students’ Halloween vocabularies and reading skills with a Halloween crossward puzzle.
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NAIDOC Week 2022 Crossword Puzzle
A student crossword puzzle based on the information sheet about the NAIDOC 2022 theme: “Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!”
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NAIDOC 2021 – Heal Country! - Crossword Puzzle
A puzzle related to key concepts of the NAIDOC theme.
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Aboriginal Diggers Crossword Puzzle
A crossword puzzle that teaches students about Aboriginal diggers.
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Land Rights Crossword
A printable Land Rights Crossword worksheet for your students to complete in your classroom.