Word Puzzle Fun!
Activity Folders
Designed to meet these objectives:
Language
• Students will identify synonyms and antonyms.
• Students will use context clues to determine the meaning of words.
• Students will demonstrate knowledge of homophones and
multiple-meaning words.
Students get hands-on vocabulary practice as they solve exciting
puzzles! These fun word puzzles are a great way to reinforce language
concepts, from synonyms and antonyms to context clues. Each puzzle
folder includes a packet of labeled letter tiles, all in a storage box for
super-easy organization. Great for a language center or for early
finishers, the kit is perfect for individuals or pairs.
What’s Included
• 12 folders
• 250 letter tiles (including 10 blank tiles)
• Storage box
Getting Started
Each of the 12 different puzzle folders focuses on a specific vocabulary
skill. Each folder is labeled with the skill it focuses on and has a set of
letter tiles that students will use to solve the puzzle. The letter tiles have
the number of the puzzle on the back.
WARNING:
CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts.
Not for children under 3 yrs.
©2010 Lakeshore
(800) 428-4414
www.lakeshorelearning.com
FF787
Ages 7+
Made in China
Before children try the puzzles independently, take out a puzzle folder
with letter tiles and show it to the students. Point out that the
directions for the puzzle are on the front of the folder. Read the
directions, then open the folder to show the puzzle. Tell students they
will use the letter tiles to solve the puzzle.
Next, place the box at a language center or designated area and allow
students to rotate through and solve a puzzle. You can set out certain
puzzles with specific skills you wish the students to focus on, or you can
allow students to choose any puzzle. The folders are perfect for
individual students or for partners to use.
There are also ten blank write & wipe letter tiles you can use in any way
you like. Use them to replace misplaced tiles or to add letters to a
puzzle for an extension activity.
Extension Activities
• S ynonyms (Folder 1): Provide a thesaurus and have students list as
many other synonyms for the words as they can find.
• Synonyms (Folder 2): Invite students to use the letter tiles to make as
many new words as they can.
• Antonyms (Folder 3): For each word the students made, have them
write a sentence that uses the word—but instead of writing the word,
they will draw a line (in fill-in-the-blank fashion). Ask them to create
a word bank and challenge a partner to complete the sentences.
• Antonyms (Folder 4): Give students index cards and have them use
the words from the puzzle to create a memory game. Ask them to
write each word on a card, then turn the cards face down and try to
find antonym pairs.
• Synonyms & Antonyms (Folder 5): Invite students to create a word
search using the words they made. Give students ½-inch grid paper
and have them write the words up, down, across, or diagonally, then
fill in the rest of the squares with random letters. Tell them to make
an answer key, and then have them trade word searches with
a partner.
• Prefixes (Folder 6): Have students fold a piece of paper lengthwise
to create two columns. Ask students to write each root word in one
column and each prefix in the other in a random order. Have them
trade papers and draw a line to match each root word with its
correct prefix.
• Suffixes (Folder 7): Have students find the three different suffixes and
write them at the top of a piece of paper. Challenge students to list as
many words with those suffixes as they can. Who can think of the most?
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refixes & Suffixes (Folder 8): Have students write each word in a
sentence and then illustrate the sentence.
• Multiple-Meaning Words (Folder 9): Provide paper and invite
students to make a picture dictionary page for each of the words.
Each word should have two pictures to illustrate both meanings.
• Homophones (Folder 10): Ask students to write each homophone pair
and use a dictionary to find the definition for each word. Allow them
to use definitions that are already on the puzzle.
• Context Clues (Folder 11): Invite students to create illustrations for
the story.
• Context Clues (Folder 12): Allow pairs to work together to play a tictac-toe game. Give each pair a piece of paper and eight index cards.
Have them draw a tic-tac-toe grid on the paper, write “free” in the
middle space, and then, in the rest of the spaces, write each of the
words they created in the puzzle. Make sure they include the hidden
word as well. On the index cards, they will write the underlined
words from the puzzle sentences. Then, they can take turns drawing
cards and putting an “x” or “o” in spaces on the board that match
the card.
Meeting Individual Needs
ELL
Gather a group of students and pre-teach the vocabulary words in a
puzzle. Draw pictures of the words and discuss definitions, then allow
pairs or individuals to complete the puzzle on their own.
Reteach/Extra Support
Choose a folder with a specific skill you wish the students to use, and
work with them as a group to solve the puzzle.
Challenge
Encourage students to complete the extension activity for the folder
they are working with. Provide extra letter tiles.
Informal Assessment Ideas
•C
hoose a folder with a specific skill you would like to assess and
make a photocopy of it. Ask students to use the tiles but also to write
the letters or words to solve the puzzle. Keep a copy of these for your
records and use them to plan further instruction.
• Observe students as they complete puzzles and note any who are
struggling with the concepts.
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