Classroom activity · Word search puzzles

Musical Instruments Word Search

Sixteen instruments in a 15 by 15 grid, hidden in all eight directions. The hardest word search in the set.

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Grade level
Grades 4–5
Time
About 25 minutes
Answer key
Yes, page 2 of the PDF
Kids practice
Word recognition, Spelling, Visual scanning, Topic vocabulary

What kids do

“Find the 16 instruments. Words go in all 8 directions: across, down, up, backwards and every diagonal.”

Printed on the sheet:

  1. Find these 16 words · Words go in all 8 directions, even backwards and up.

Words on this sheet

banjocellodrumsfluteguitarharppianotrumpettubaukuleleviolin

Teacher tip

Play a short clip of a few instruments as kids find them, to make the words come alive.

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.
  • Let kids work with a partner so they talk through their thinking.

Watch for

Kids circling random letters to finish fast. Ask them to read each word as they find it.

Talk about it

  • Did you find words going a direction you did not expect?
  • What would you change to make it harder?

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.

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