December Word Search

About this resource

A December word search set that works for the whole room: nine puzzles at three levels, so a kindergartener, a second grader and a third grader can each get a page that fits. The words are about winter weather, clothes, animals and cozy time at home, plus one grade 2 puzzle of December words (lights, gift, candle, star) that are not tied to any one holiday, so it fits any classroom. Every student page has a big My name line and one short instruction with a picture. Grid letters are big, and the starting level shows a picture next to every word.

EVERYTHING INSIDE (28 pages)

• 1 binder cover with a spine label, and 3 divider tabs
• 1 Start Here page: what is inside, the three levels, where to use it, prep
• 3 starting-level word searches (K-1): a 7 by 7 grid, 5 words each, words go left to right only, one word to a row, a picture word list (15 words in all)
• 3 building-level word searches (grade 2): an 8 by 8 grid, 6 words each, words go across and down (18 words in all)
• 3 ready-for-more word searches (grade 3): a 10 by 10 grid, 8 words each, words go in all eight directions (24 words in all)
• 3 scramble pages, one for each level (17 words in all): put the letters in order with a picture, fix the word from a word bank, or use a clue
• 1 draw-and-write page: My winter day, with a drawing box, handwriting lines and a picture word bank
• 1 make-your-own word search page: write 6 words, hide them in a blank 8 by 8 grid
• 1 "when I am done" picture menu for early finishers
• 3 answer keys, one per level, with every puzzle solved and the row, column and direction of every word
• 1 Who Did What This Week class data page, with the scramble answers
• 1 family letter, 1 what's-next page, 1 credits page

Three Levels, Marked With Shapes

The levels are marked with a circle, a square and a triangle beside the name line instead of a number, so children at one table are not comparing papers. Grade labels are a starting guess; hand each child the level that feels good.

Every Grid Checked

The grids were made in code and each one was checked by a second scan: every listed word appears in its grid, exactly once in the directions its level uses. The answer keys are made from the same data as the puzzles.

Use It For

Early finishers, centers, morning work, sub plans, a mixed-level group, a quiet December activity at home.

What This Is, And What It Is Not

A print-and-go PDF: print and hand out with crayons or pencils. There is no cutting except the optional binder spine label. It is not a fillable PDF and it is not Google Slides or a PowerPoint file. The pictures are Whimsy Clips art and the fonts are KA Fonts; the file is secured so the art cannot be lifted out of it.

Who This Is For

Kindergarten through 3rd grade teachers and special education teachers who need December word work for a mixed-level room.