3D Printing Vocabulary word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this 3D printing vocabulary puzzle set for my Grade 4 students during our STEM unit. The kids loved watching the printer work but had no idea what words like filament, nozzle, or layer meant when we talked about how things are printed. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like filament, extruder, nozzle, bed, layer, infill, support, slicer, STL, G-code, raft, brim, warping, stringing, and calibration. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the 3D printing vocabulary finally stick.

The PDFs are six pages. Three puzzles, each with its own answer key page. The word search works well for quiet time after recess or indoor recess. The scramble gets them talking because they argue about whether the printer melts the plastic or just stacks it. The crossword I use for partners or as a review. I added a couple simple printer, nozzle, and plastic coil drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for Grade 4 through Grade 5. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers draw what they would design and print on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.