Famous Astronauts word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Famous Astronauts word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this famous astronauts puzzle set for my 3rd and 4th graders during our space unit. The kids knew Neil Armstrong but couldn't name any other astronauts or what they accomplished. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Sally Ride, Mae Jemison, John Glenn, Yuri Gagarin, Jim Lovell, Apollo 11, space shuttle, first woman, first American, first human, moon walk, and space station. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help these names 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 over how to spell "Gagarin" or who walked on the moon first. The crossword I use for partners. I added a couple simple space suit and flag drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 2nd through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers pick one astronaut and write one fact about them on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.