Coordinate Plane word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Coordinate Plane word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this coordinate plane puzzle set for my 5th graders during our geometry unit. The kids could find points on a grid but had no idea what words like x-axis, y-axis, origin, or ordered pair meant. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like coordinate plane, x-axis, y-axis, origin, ordered pair, x-coordinate, y-coordinate, quadrant, plot, point, grid, horizontal, vertical, intersect, and four quadrants. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the coordinate plane 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. The scramble gets them talking because they argue about whether the x-coordinate or y-coordinate comes first in an ordered pair. The crossword I use for partners. I added a couple simple grid and point drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers plot the point (3,2) on a coordinate grid on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.