School Crossword Puzzle for Kids

Looking for a fun activity to entertain the kids? Try this school crossword puzzle for kids to solve and color. Use the word bank and pictures to fill in the blanks. You can download this puzzle for free at the bottom of this blog post.

WHAT SKILLS DO YOU WANT TO IMPROVE WITH THIS SCHOOL CROSSWORD PUZZLE?

This free printable helps kids work on the following skills:

• Fine motor skills
• Handwriting
• Visual perceptual skills
• Spelling
• Vocabulary

HOW DO YOU COMPLETE THIS ACTIVITY?

All you need to do is print out the puzzle. Provide the students with a pencil and crayons. Colored pencils are even better! The students have to use the pictures to solve the crossword clues. There is a word bank to help with spelling and vocabulary words.

HOW TO GET ACCESS TO THE FREE SCHOOL CROSSWORD PUZZLE PDF PRINTABLE

All you need to do is follow these three steps to access the printable page for preschoolers, kindergarten students, elementary and homeschool students:

1. Sign up to receive the emails from Your Therapy Source. If you already get our emails, you can enter your email in the box. You will not be subscribed twice.
2. You will be redirected to download the PDF format file of the printable activity.
3. Print or screen share the activity.

OTHER WAYS TO COMPLETE THE ACTIVITY

Here are a few options to modify or differentiate this activity:

• Print on cardstock paper and laminate it.  Use wipe-off markers to write on the free printable.
• Make it easier by: adding the starting letters for each numbered word if the student needs additional help.
• Make it more difficult by: removing the word bank and have the student solve it without those clues.
• Add in physical activity by: adding Back to School Brain Breaks to the activity before they complete the puzzle to get their body and minds ready to learn! No time to add in another activity? Simply have the kids do arm circles every time they fill in a horizontal word and toe touches every time they complete a vertical word. This adds directionality and motor planning to the puzzle.

WHY ARE THESE SKILLS IMPORTANT FOR THE CHILDREN TO PRACTICE WITH THIS FREE PRINTABLE?

Here are more details about this free printable and why the skills are important to practice.

FINE MOTOR SKILLS

Fine motor skills refer to the ability to control small muscles in the hands and fingers. For example in this activity, the children have to: pick up the pencils or crayons to complete the puzzle.

GROSS MOTOR SKILLS 

Gross motor skills are the ability to use large muscles to complete tasks. Examples of gross motor skills include walking, running, jumping, climbing, and throwing. 

If you add in the additional physical activity, the children have to: complete arm circles and toe touches.

VISUAL MOTOR SKILLS

Visual motor skills are the ability to use information from our visual system to guide our motor system. This can include skills such as catching a ball, writing, drawing, and cutting with scissors. Visual motor skills involve the coordination of both large and small muscles.

For example, in this activity the children have to: copy the words from the word bank to the puzzle and write the letters in the boxes.

Get more visual motor activity ideas.

VISUAL SCANNING SKILLS

Visual scanning skills refer to the ability to look at a visual display and take in the information quickly and efficiently. This can be useful in a variety of settings, from reading a book to finding a specific item in a store. 

For example, in this activity children have to: find the pictures and scan for the numbers to see where the words need to go in the school crossword puzzle for kids.

HANDWRITING

Handwriting is still an important skill especially important for young children, who are still developing their ability to form letters and fine motor skills. Handwriting can also help to boost memory and concentration. It is a wonderful form of self-expression. 

In the activity, the children are working on the following aspects of handwriting: letter formation and letter sizing. The letters need to fit inside the boxes.

VISUAL SPATIAL AWARENESS

The definition of visual-spatial relations is the ability to visually perceive two or more objects in relation to each other and to yourself. 

In this activity, children are working on: determining where the letters go – horizontal or vertical and left to right and top to bottom.

WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO USE THIS SCHOOL CROSSWORD PUZZLE FOR KIDS ACTIVITY?

The free printable is great to use for:

• Fine Motor stations
• Brain breaks
• Early finishers
• Occupational Therapy Session
• Vision therapy activity
• Carry over activities at home
• School breaks
• Anytime kids need some extra motor skill practice!