Cultural Awareness Words word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Cultural Awareness Words word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this cultural awareness puzzle set for my 3rd and 4th graders during our social studies and social-emotional learning unit. The kids could name some holidays but had no idea what words like culture, tradition, or celebrate meant when we talked about different ways people live. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like culture, tradition, celebrate, food, music, dance, language, family, clothes, art, story, and respect. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the cultural awareness 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 culture is the same as where you're from. The crossword I use for partners or as a review. I added a couple simple globe, flag, and music note drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 3rd through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers write one tradition their family has on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.