Drawing and Painting Terms word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Drawing and Painting Terms word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this drawing and painting terms puzzle set for my 2nd and 3rd graders during our art unit. The kids could draw and paint but had no idea what words like sketch, shade, or blend meant when I asked them to use different techniques. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like sketch, shade, outline, contour, highlight, shadow, blend, texture, pattern, background, foreground, horizon line, still life, landscape, portrait, and self-portrait. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the drawing and painting vocabulary finally stick.

The PDF is four pages. Three puzzles plus one answer key page. The word search works well for quiet time after art class or indoor recess. The scramble gets them talking because they argue about the difference between a portrait and a self-portrait. The crossword I use for partners or as a review before a quiz. I added a couple simple pencil, paintbrush, and palette drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 2nd through 4th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers name one drawing technique they learned on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.