Grade 3 Author's Purpose word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Grade 3

I made this author's purpose puzzle set for my 3rd graders during our reading comprehension unit. The kids could read a book but had no idea why the author wrote it or how to tell the difference between persuade, inform, and entertain. They also kept mixing up inform and entertain when we looked at different texts. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like persuade, inform, entertain, explain, describe, purpose, author, reader, opinion, fact, story, and article . I also threw in a few like "convince" and "teach" because they kept coming up in our class discussions . Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help PIE (persuade, inform, entertain) 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 independent practice. The scramble gets them talking because they argue about the spelling of "persuade" or whether a textbook is meant to inform or persuade (it's inform—they always have opinions about it) . The crossword I use for partners or as a review, and I usually have a PIE chart on the wall for the kids who need the visual support to remember the three types . I added a couple simple book, newspaper, and ad drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 3rd through 4th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers name one book that entertains and one that informs on the back. The kids actually ask for these now. Author's Purpose word search, scramble and crossword puzzle