Silent E Word Search, Scramble, and Crossword

Silent E Words word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this silent E puzzle set for my 1st and 2nd graders during our phonics unit. The kids could read short vowel words but got confused when a silent E at the end made the first vowel say its name, like "hop" becoming "hope." So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like cake, bake, make, take, name, game, time, like, bike, kite, home, hope, rope, note, use, cute, tube, cube, plane, plate, grape, snake, stripe, prize, and alone. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the magic E rule 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 "love" follows the silent E rule. The crossword I use for partners with picture clues. I added a couple simple cake, bike, and magic wand drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 1st through 3rd grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers write three pairs of words like "hop/hope" on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.

Focus on how silent E changes I with these long and short I worksheets.