Heat Transfer Word Search, Scramble, and Crossword

Heat Transfer word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this heat transfer puzzle set for my 3rd and 4th graders during our physical science unit. The kids knew that a spoon gets hot in soup and the sun feels warm but had no idea there were three different ways heat moves. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like conduction, convection, radiation, heat, transfer, solid, liquid, gas, touch, fluid, rise, sink, waves, sun, burner, and warm. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the three types finally 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 about whether a hot stove heating a pan is conduction or radiation. The crossword I use for partners. I added a couple simple drawings of a pot on a stove, hot air rising, and sun warming the ground but nothing too busy.

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