Grades 3–4
Sports and Games Word Search
Fourteen sports in a 13 by 13 grid. Some words run backwards, so it is a real challenge for 3rd and 4th grade.
Classroom activity · Word search puzzles
Garden Bugs Word Search
Twelve garden bug words in a 12 by 12 grid. They run across, down and diagonally, but never backwards.
- Grade level
- Grades 2–3
- Time
- About 20 minutes
- Topic
- Word search puzzles
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Word recognition, Spelling, Visual scanning, Topic vocabulary
What kids do
“Find the 12 garden bugs. Words go across, down or diagonally down.”
Printed on the sheet:
- Find these 12 words · Words go across →, down ↓ or diagonally ↘. Never backwards.
Words on this sheet
antbeetlecricketfireflygnatladybugmothsnailspiderwaspworm
Teacher tip
Show kids how a diagonal word moves one row and one column at a time.
How to use it
- Read the word list aloud together before kids start searching.
- Show kids how to look for the first letter, then check the next one.
- Model the first move or the first answer on the document camera.
Watch for
Kids circling random letters to finish fast. Ask them to read each word as they find it.
Talk about it
- Which of these words can you use in a sentence?
- What was the trickiest part? How did you get past it?
Take it further
Have kids make their own word search on grid paper for a partner.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More word search puzzles
Grades 4–5
Musical Instruments Word Search
Sixteen instruments in a 15 by 15 grid, hidden in all eight directions. The hardest word search in the set.
Grades 1–2
Weather Word Search
Ten weather words, from sun to thunder, hidden across and down in a 10 by 10 grid.
Grades 1–2
Fruits and Vegetables Word Search
Twelve fruits and vegetables across and down in an 11 by 11 grid. Talk about which ones grow on trees.
Free for teachers
Get the free Classroom Drawing Kit
12 printable pages: six step-by-step lessons, a grid activity, draw-and-write sheets and teacher notes, sent with your welcome email. After that, new classroom printables by email.