Make Your Own Word Search Games

Word search puzzles consist of a mass of letters in the form of a square or rectangular grid. Along with the grid is a list of words that can be found within the grid. The words may be horizontal, diagonal, vertical and sometimes backwards. The object of the game is to search the grid and find each word in the list. You can make a unique word search game, perhaps using a classroom's spelling list or using a list of baby-related words for a baby shower game.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Open Microsoft Excel. Make sure you have a new, blank spreadsheet open. Select cells "A1" through "AS20" with the mouse. Click "Format" on the toolbar. Point to "Column" and then click on "Width." Type "1.30" in the "Column Width" box and then click "OK." This will re-size all of the cells in the selection. Make sure the cells are still selected.

2. Click "Format" on the toolbar and then click "Cells." Click on the "Alignment" tab. In the "Text Alignment" section, change both "Horizontal" and "Vertical" to "Center" and click "OK."

3. Type "Word List" into cell "A33." Beginning in cell "A35," type the list of words that will be hidden in the graph. Type the words from your list into any cells in "A1" through "AS30." They can be diagonal, horizontal, vertical, left to right, or right to left. Make sure you only enter one letter into each cell.

4. Save the spreadsheet with only the "Word List" and these words in the graph. Save it as your "Answer Key." This will help you when it is time to grade the word search games, or if you need help finding where you placed the correct answers.

5. Type random letters into the remaining cells in the graph area. Make sure there are no empty cells. Save this as "Word Search" and print.

Tips & Warnings

• You can overlap word list words with each other, if you have a long list. Entering letters that almost make a word on the list will make it more challenging.

Resources

• Play Games in Excel