| The kid-friendly puzzles described below were originally offered by THE PUZZLE SOCIETY, but appear to be unavailable right now. These particular brands were suitable for advanced elementary-aged students, and I’m sorry to see them go! I will keep this post alive in case they are reinstated at some point in the future. |
Here are a few interactive vocabulary-building games that will challenge those student linguists in your room. Use them for virtual enrichment, warm-up activities, additions to a choice board, or fun and friendly weekly competitions.
JUMBLE CLASSIC is a classic! This word puzzle was my favorite part of the newspaper comics section when I was young (am I dating myself?). It’s a two-step puzzle, and this online version includes some fun interactive features. To solve the puzzle, use the jumbled letters to create words. Then, use the circled letters to finish the cartoon caption. A new puzzle is posted daily, and there is an archive of puzzles available (click on the calendar icon above the cartoon).
UNOLINGO (pronounced YOU KNOW LINGO) is solved using both word knowledge and deductive reasoning. It’s similar to Daily Codeword, one of my favorites, but this version is tailored to students. The stars at the top of the puzzle indicate the difficulty level, and throughout the week, the puzzles increase in difficulty. On Mondays and Tuesdays, one- and two-star puzzles are featured, and three- and four-star puzzles are posted later in the week. Students can also learn the meaning of the word “audit” (to examine or inspect). When the AUDIT button is hit, the puzzle is audited for incorrect placements. The use of the HINT and AUDIT buttons will cost the player, though. Points are deducted from the total score.
Kids can be challenged to create their own puzzles, too. Writing, and perhaps even illustrating a JUMBLE CLASSIC puzzle could be a great project for word-loving students. However, I don’t think UNOLINGO lends itself as much to this. I think it’s enough of a challenge to just solve one!
UP AND DOWN WORDS is another unique word puzzle that is fun to solve and create. The clues hint at TWO-WORD solutions. The first word of the answer is placed in the first column and the second word in the second column. The second word is also the first word of the next solution. The puzzle below has been completely solved.
There are two levels of play, REGULAR and EXPERT, and I would definitely challenge kids to create their own for our puzzle center (see Kid-Created Logic Puzzles). You could create a hallway display, too, with poster-sized puzzles on display.
7 LITTLE WORDS is another interactive puzzle that definitely builds vocabulary skills and in a fun way. Using the clues, students find the solutions and build the words using the letter tiles at the bottom of the screen. Students will like the interactive features and immediate feedback!
If you’re looking for additional word puzzles and activities, there are many featured and freely shared in the following previous posts:
Kid-Created Word Puzzles: FUN-damental Brainwork!
Pun and Games, Mathematical Poetry, and Creativity with Words
More Pun and Games: A Little Language Levity
You can find many other types of puzzles HERE and HERE. You might also like to take the 4-minute video tour of this site to see the many resources, lesson plans, puzzles, etc. that can be found here. What can you share with us? Leave your comments below!