Puzzle and Logic Terms word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this puzzle and logic terms puzzle set for my 3rd and 4th graders during our critical thinking and indoor recess unit. The kids loved solving puzzles, but they had no idea what words like strategy, sequence, or logic meant when we talked about how to think through a problem. They also kept mixing up words like “brain teaser” and “puzzle.” So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like puzzle, logic, brain teaser, sequence, pattern, solve, clue, reasoning, strategy, and problem . Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the vocabulary finally stick.

The PDF is four pages. Three puzzles plus one answer key page. The word search works well for quiet time after recess, and the scramble gets them talking because they argue about the spelling of “strategy” or whether a brain teaser is the same as a riddle . The crossword I use for partners or as a review after we've solved a few puzzles together. I added a couple simple question mark, lightbulb, and puzzle piece drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 3rd through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers write their own riddle or puzzle using three words from the puzzle on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.