Plate Tectonics word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Plate Tectonics word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this plate tectonics puzzle set for my 4th graders during our Earth science unit. The kids had heard of earthquakes but had no idea that the ground they stand on is actually broken into moving pieces. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like plate, tectonic, crust, mantle, core, boundary, divergent, convergent, transform, earthquake, volcano, mountain, drift, fossil evidence, and Pangaea. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the big idea finally click.

The PDF is four pages. Three puzzles plus one answer key page. The word search works well for quiet time after recess. The scramble gets them talking because they argue about whether continents are still moving today. The crossword I use for partners. I added a couple simple puzzle piece drawings showing moving plates but nothing too busy.

Works for 4th through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers draw the three types of plate boundaries on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.