The Muscular System word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

The Muscular System word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this muscular system puzzle set for my 3rd and 4th graders during our human body unit. The kids knew muscles helped them move but had no idea about voluntary vs involuntary muscles or that they had over 600 muscles. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like muscle, skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, voluntary, involuntary, biceps, triceps, quadriceps, hamstring, tendon, contract, relax, move, and heart. 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 about whether the heart is a muscle. The crossword I use for partners. I added a couple simple arm muscle drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 3rd through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers name two voluntary and two involuntary muscles on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.