The Carbon Cycle word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

The Carbon Cycle word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this carbon cycle puzzle set for my 4th graders during our Earth science unit. The kids had heard of carbon dioxide but had no idea how carbon moved through air, plants, animals, and soil. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like carbon, carbon dioxide, oxygen, photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, fossil fuels, atmosphere, plants, animals, soil, ocean, burn, and cycle. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the loop 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 trees take in carbon or release it. The crossword I use for partners. I added a couple simple arrow and leaf drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 4th through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers draw the carbon cycle on the back with four simple steps. The kids actually ask for these now.