How to Create a Wordsearch or Word Find Puzzle
Word search puzzles can be an entertaining way of exercising the brain. In these puzzles, players must search through a box of letters to find words. The words are usually provided on a list and can be related to a theme. Teachers can create word searches to help children learn vocabulary related to a particular topic. You can create a word search puzzle in two ways: by hand or using a website.
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Instructions
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Creating the Word List
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Think about the reason you are creating the puzzle. Is it for entertainment or education? If it is for education, decide what vocabulary or ideas you want your students to learn while doing the word search. If it is for entertainment, decide on a theme that will be enjoyable to the puzzle solver.
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Brainstorm words that are related to your theme. Write down all the words you can think of that have to do with that theme. If you get stuck, look up the topic in the dictionary, encyclopedia or online. Keep brainstorming until you have at least 15 words.
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Examine your list. Choose 10 to 15 words that will go into the final puzzle. The words should be of varying lengths and the puzzle-solver should be able to read them on his own.
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Rewrite your final list.
Creating the Word Search by Hand
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On your graph paper, measure out a space that is four squares by four squares, five squares by five squares, or six squares by six squares. The size you choose depends upon the size of your longest word; you need to have space for each letter of that word. Draw a square to represent the puzzle space.
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Place your words within the space however you would like, writing one letter per square. In a word search puzzle they can go vertically, horizontally, diagonally and backwards, and cross each other like a crossword.
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Add extra letters in blank squares between the words.
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Type your puzzle into your favorite word processing software. Type using capital letters. After each letter, make a few spaces before writing the next letter. When you get to the end of the row, hit Enter and type the next row of letters in the same manner. When the puzzle is done, type a word list on a separate page.
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Save your puzzle. Print as many copies as you'd like to give to puzzle solvers.
Creating a Word Search Using the Internet
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Find a website that generates word search puzzles. Three such websites are Armored Penguin, Discovery Education Puzzlemaker, and Teach-nology (see links in Resources).
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Type your word list into the site when prompted to do so. Click on "make word search" when you are done.
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The website will generate the word search for you. Print out as many copies as you need to give to puzzle-solvers.
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Resources
- Photo Credit puzzle time image by Christopher Hall from Fotolia.com
