The 13 Original Colonies word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

The 13 Original Colonies word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this 13 original colonies puzzle set for my 3rd and 4th graders during our social studies unit. The kids had heard of the colonies but couldn't name more than a few or remember which region they belonged to. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like Virginia, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Georgia, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, New England, and colony. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the names 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 there really were thirteen or if some got left out. The crossword I use for partners. I added a couple simple star and map outline drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 3rd through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers list the New England colonies on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.