Rosa Parks word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Rosa Parks word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this Rosa Parks puzzle set for my 3rd and 4th graders during our Civil Rights unit. The kids had heard she refused to give up her bus seat but had no idea that one quiet act helped start a huge movement. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like Rosa Parks, bus, seat, refuse, arrest, brave, segregation, boycott, Montgomery, protest, civil rights, equality, justice, leader, and change. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the story finally stick.

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 Rosa Parks was the first person to refuse her bus seat. The crossword I use for partners. I added a couple simple bus and silhouette drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 3rd through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers write one fact about the Montgomery Bus Boycott on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.