What is the educational value for completing word puzzles?
This is a great question, that has been debated by many educators.
Working with spelling words and new vocabulary, seems like a justifiable use for using word puzzles. However; when created by the teacher, the students require no creative thinking and often lack the comprehension and connection to the new vocabulary. Sort of a worksheet in a different form. So how do we “up” the value? This value increases when you have them create their own word puzzles.
On the Discovery Education Site students can create
- Crosswords
Fallen Phrase - Word Search with Hidden Message
- Criss-Cross Puzzle
- Cryptograms
- Letter Tiles
- Fallen Phrase
- Double Puzzles
All which link vocabulary to meaning.
After students have created their word puzzle, on the iPad hold finger on the image and download into photos. In Photos share or upload the image into Notability and have students compete.
On macbook, right click on image and save. Share via email or google drive then download image and add image to a notebook file and use pens to complete.