Thanksgiving Crossword Puzzle with Word Search and Scramble

Thanksgiving Vocabulary word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this Thanksgiving vocabulary puzzle set for my 2nd and 3rd graders during our fall unit. The kids loved the holiday but had no idea what words like Pilgrim, Wampanoag, or feast meant when we read about the first Thanksgiving. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like Thanksgiving, Pilgrim, Wampanoag, feast, harvest, turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry, pumpkin, pie, corn, squash, gratitude, thankful, family, tradition, and November. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the Thanksgiving vocabulary finally stick.

The PDF is four pages. Three puzzles plus one answer key page. The word search works well for quiet time after recess or indoor recess. The scramble gets them talking because they argue about what the Wampanoag ate at the first feast. The crossword I use for partners or as a review. I added a couple simple turkey, pumpkin, and cornucopia drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 2nd through 4th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers write one thing they are thankful for on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.