Stars and Constellations word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Stars and Constellations word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this stars and constellations puzzle set for my 3rd and 4th graders during our space unit. The kids loved looking at night sky pictures but couldn't name any constellations or explain what a star actually is. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like star, constellation, Orion, Big Dipper, Little Dipper, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Polaris, galaxy, Milky Way, telescope, astronomer, nebula, and supernova. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the vocabulary 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 over how to spell "constellation" or mix up Ursa Major and Minor. The crossword I use for partners. I added a couple simple star dot drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 2nd through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers draw a simple constellation on the back and name it. The kids actually ask for these now.