How to Design a Crossword Puzzle With Mathematical Terms

Designing crossword puzzles with math terms is easy to do online.

Crossword puzzle enthusiasts thoroughly enjoy completing crossword puzzles, while others find it just as much fun to create them. The Internet provides numerous websites for creating your own math themed crossword puzzles. Designing crossword puzzles with mathematical terms is a powerful brain-building activity. This type of puzzle is also a useful learning tool when introducing new math terms to students. Here are a few examples of how you can create your own mathematical crossword puzzles.

Instructions

Directions

1. 

   Designing your own crossword puzzles is a fun and budget friendly activity.

   Visit crosswordpuzzlegames.com. Click on "Create a Crossword" on the right-hand side of the screen. Enter mathematical terms in the boxes provided on the left-hand side of the screen. Enter corresponding hints on the right-hand side of the box. Click "Create My Crossword Puzzle" at the bottom of the page. Confirm your printer settings have "Print background images/colors" selected under your browser’s print menu, then print your puzzle.

2. 

   Crossword puzzles with mathematical terms help stimulate the mind.

   Visit puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com. Click on the "Math Squares" link. Enter the title of the puzzle, followed by the size of the squares and calculation method. Click "Create My Puzzle" at the bottom of the page. Print out the puzzle, or click "Solution" to see answers to the puzzle.

3. 

   Many people find crossword puzzles relaxing.

   Visit justcrosswords.com. Click on "Make your own crossword puzzle." Enter the puzzle title and author in the left-hand side of the box. Enter a mathematical term and clue in the right-hand side of the box. Click "Add Word" to add the word and clue to the puzzle. Enter at least 10 words, previewing the puzzle after each addition. Click "Save puzzle" at the bottom of the page. Select the "Go the puzzle now" link at the top of the following page. Print out the puzzle, or click "letter" or "word" for help.

4. 

   Crossword puzzles can be created online and printed out at home or work.

   Visit the teacherscorner.net. Click on "Crossword Puzzle Maker" under the "Printables From the Teacher’s Corner" sub heading. Click "Create your own crossword puzzle." Enter the title of the puzzle, followed by the mathematical terms and clues in the boxes provided. Choose the font, size and direction of the puzzle. Click "Create" at the bottom right-hand side of the screen. Print out the crossword puzzle on the next page.

5. 

   A pen and some paper are all that you need to complete your crossword puzzle.

   Visit wordsearchfun.com. Click "Make Puzzles" at the top of the page. Create an account by entering a username, password and e-mail address. Click on "Make a new puzzle." Select "School" from the list of topics. Enter the name and description of your puzzle in the boxes provided. Select a puzzle size from the drop-down menu, and click on the arrow at the bottom right-hand side of the page. Enter math terms in the boxes on the following page. Select "public" if you’d like others to be able to view your puzzle online. Click "Finish puzzle" at the bottom of the page. Print out the puzzle after it appears on the screen.

Tips & Warnings

• A free download of Adobe Reader may be required to view some crossword puzzles.

• Most puzzles require a minimum of 10 words to create a puzzle.

• Some sites offer trial versions of their puzzle making software, but then charge a usage fee each time you create a puzzle.

References

• Crossword Puzzle Games
• Discovery Education Puzzle Maker
• Just Crosswords
• The Teacher’s Corner
• Word Search Fun

Resources

• Math: Glossary of Terms
• Web Crosswords
• Education World Math Crossword Puzzles
• Study Stack Math Crossword Puzzles