Kinetic and Potential Energy Word Search, Scramble, and Crossword

Potential vs Kinetic Energy word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this potential vs kinetic energy puzzle set for my 4th graders during our physical science unit. The kids kept mixing up the two words even after I explained that potential is stored and kinetic is moving. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like potential, kinetic, energy, stored, motion, moving, gravitational, elastic, ball on a hill, stretched rubber band, roller coaster, speed, height, mass, and transform. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the difference finally click.

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 book on a shelf has potential or kinetic energy. The crossword I use for partners. I added a couple simple drawings of a ball at the top of a hill and rolling down but nothing too busy.

Works for 4th through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers give one real-life example of each type on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.