Realistic Fiction Terms word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Realistic Fiction Terms word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this realistic fiction terms puzzle set for my 3rd and 4th graders during our reading unit. The kids could read stories about kids like them but had no idea what words like realistic, ordinary, or problem meant when we talked about what makes a story realistic fiction. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like realistic, ordinary, problem, solution, feeling, school, family, friend, character, and setting. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the realistic fiction 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 or indoor recess. The scramble gets them talking because they argue about whether a story can be realistic fiction if it has talking animals. The crossword I use for partners or as a review. I added a couple simple school, house, and friend drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 3rd through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers write a short realistic fiction story using three words from the puzzle on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.