The Nervous System word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

The Nervous System word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this nervous system puzzle set for my 3rd and 4th graders during our human body unit. The kids knew the brain was in charge but had no idea about nerves, the spinal cord, or how messages travel through the body. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like brain, spinal cord, nerve, neuron, impulse, signal, sense, touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing, reflex, react, and control center. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the vocabulary finally click.

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 why touching something hot makes you pull your hand away so fast. The crossword I use for partners. I added a couple simple brain and nerve pathway drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 3rd through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers list three things the nervous system controls on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.