Mitosis and the Cell Cycle Word Search and Scramble Activity

Students will recognize and locate 25 mitosis and cell-cycle vocabulary terms within a word search grid.

Students will unscramble each of the 25 terms from its letters.

Students will write an accurate definition for each of the 25 mitosis and cell-cycle terms.

Because the word search, scrambled search and scramble-and-define table all use the identical 25-term list, assign them across several class periods for spaced review rather than treating each as unrelated content.

The definition-only table and the combined scramble-and-define table cover the same ground with different scaffolding, so use the combined version for students who need the unscrambled term as a hint before defining it.

Print from either the Word or PDF version of the same activity; both contain identical content, so choose Word only if you plan to edit the term list or layout.

Vocabulary recognition — students locate 25 mitosis and cell-cycle terms (mitosis, prophase, chromatid, spindle fibers, and more) within a word search.

Word decoding — students unscramble each of the 25 terms from a scrambled letter string (e.g. PAANHASE → ANAPHASE).

Term definition — students write the meaning of each term, such as distinguishing prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase as sequential mitosis stages.