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Step 1
Make a list of the words that you want to use in the crossword puzzle. Use all of the vocabulary words in a unit or chapter or focus on one particular area. You may want to make a crossword puzzle that uses only weather-related terms or one that covers vehicle names in French.
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Step 2
Find a crossword puzzle generator on the Internet. Crosswordpuzzlegames.com and crosswordpuzzlemakers.com allow you to create your own custom crossword puzzles. You choose how large or small you want the crossword puzzle to be.
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Step 3
Enter the words you want to use and the hints you want to use in the crossword generator. Try to keep hints to a few words if possible. Words should be fairly easy to guess based on the hints you provide.
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Step 4
Submit the words and hints to the crossword puzzle generator. When your puzzle is generated, it may include some blank areas on one side. If you want a more balanced look, add a few more words and submit again.
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Step 5
Change your browser settings to allow backgrounds to be printed. If you don’t do this, you won’t see the black boxes and the crossword grid. For all systems, you will need to make sure that “Print backgrounds” is selected. If you use Internet Explorer, you can get to this option by clicking “Tools,” then “Internet Options.” Click “Advanced,” and scroll down to “Printing.” For NetScape and Mozilla, select “File” and then “Page Setup.”
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Step 6
Print out the crossword puzzle when you have a version that satisfies you. Make copies and distribute to your students. Be sure to make a print out a copy of the hints and words for quicker grading.
