Erosion and Weathering word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Erosion and Weathering word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this erosion and weathering puzzle set for my 3rd and 4th graders during our Earth science unit. The kids kept using the two words like they meant the same thing and I got tired of correcting them. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like erosion, weathering, wind, water, ice, gravity, sediment, rock, soil, crack, freeze, thaw, deposition, canyon, and landslide. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the difference finally click.

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 a river cutting through rock is erosion or weathering. The crossword I use for partners. I added a couple simple rock and water drip drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 3rd through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers give one example of each on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.