Indigenous People of Canada word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Indigenous People of Canada word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this Indigenous Peoples of Canada puzzle set for my 3rd and 4th graders during our social studies unit. The kids had some knowledge but kept mixing up "First Nations," "Inuit," and "Métis" or didn't understand that these are three distinct groups with their own unique cultures, languages, and histories . I wanted to build their vocabulary around these foundational terms without overwhelming them, so I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Nation, Treaty, Turtle Island, Elders, powwow, and culture . I also made sure to include "Inuk" as the singular form for Inuit because the kids always ask about that .

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 difference between "First Nations" and "Aboriginal" (I gently explain that "Indigenous" is now the preferred collective term, while "Aboriginal" is still used in some legal contexts but many find it outdated) . The crossword I use for partners or as a review after we've studied the map of Inuit Nunangat or looked at traditional territories. I added a couple simple feather, drum, and inukshuk drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 3rd through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers pick one word from the puzzles and write a sentence about what it means on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.