Black History Month word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Black History Month word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this Black History Month puzzle set for my 3rd and 4th graders during our February unit. The kids had heard of the month but had no idea what words like heritage, equality, or civil rights meant when we talked about why we celebrate. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like Black History, heritage, equality, justice, civil rights, freedom, MLK, Rosa Parks, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, legacy, courage, achievement, and February. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the Black History 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 indoor recess. The scramble gets them talking because they argue about whether Harriet Tubman was a conductor on the Underground Railroad. The crossword I use for partners or as a review. I added a couple simple hand, heart, and star drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 3rd through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers write one fact about a Black historical figure on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.