Slavery and Abolition word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Slavery and Abolition word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this slavery and abolition puzzle set for my 4th graders during our Civil War unit. The kids had heard the words but had no clear idea what slavery was or who worked to end it. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like slavery, abolition, abolitionist, freedom, enslaved, plantation, owner, escape, underground railroad, conductor, Douglass, Tubman, Lincoln, emancipation, and justice. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the vocabulary finally make sense.

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 the Underground Railroad was actually a railroad. The crossword I use for partners. I added a couple simple lantern and railroad track drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 4th through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers write one fact about Harriet Tubman on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.