Reconstruction Era word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Reconstruction Era word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this Reconstruction Era puzzle set for my 4th graders during our post-Civil War unit. The kids knew the war ended but had no idea what happened next or how the South was rebuilt. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like reconstruction, rebuild, south, freedmen, rights, amendment, 13th, 14th, 15th, citizenship, vote, equality, sharecropper, military, and reunite. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the vocabulary 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 what the 13th Amendment did. The crossword I use for partners. I added a couple simple handshake and building drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 4th through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers name one right freed slaves gained during Reconstruction on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.