Ballet Terms word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Ballet Terms word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this ballet terms puzzle set for my 2nd and 3rd graders during our dance unit. The kids loved watching dancers but had no idea what words like plié, jeté, or arabesque meant when I tried to teach them basic ballet positions. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like plié, jeté, arabesque, pirouette, tendu, rond de jambe, dégagé, chassé, pas de chat, grand jeté, barre, turnout, posé, and arabesque. I also threw in a few like chassé and pirouette because they're fun to say. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the ballet vocabulary finally stick.

The PDF is four pages. Three puzzles plus one answer key page. The word search works well for quiet time after recess or during indoor recess. The scramble gets them talking because they argue about how to pronounce plié or whether a jeté is a jump or a slide. The crossword I use for partners or as a review after a movement lesson. I added a couple simple dancer silhouette and ballet shoe drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 2nd through 4th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers demonstrate a plié at their desk and write the name on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.