Christmas Word Search (A1+)

Objective & content

A Christmas word search with a secret message. Pupils find 15 Christmas words in an 11 by 11 grid (across, down and diagonally, never backwards); PRESENT is circled as the example. Then they read the letters they did not use, from left to right and top to bottom, and write them in the boxes: they spell a Christmas greeting. Page 1 is the pupil page, with a strip of photos, the grid, the word list and the message boxes. Page 2 is for the teacher: every word ringed, the message letters shaded, the message written out and where each word is. About 15 minutes.

Pedagogical guide

A word search on its own can feel endless; here the secret message gives pupils a clear goal and a reward at the end. The words mix everyday ones (star, bell, card, gift, scarf, jumper) with words that name Christmas (holly, pudding, stocking, reindeer). Pupils meet these with a photo or in the list, so they only need to recognise them. The message is the greeting printed on the first Christmas card in 1843: the listening sheet "The First Christmas Card" tells its story, so the two make a good pair.

Suggested procedure

1. (1 min) Hand out page 1. Show the example, PRESENT, and say the words go across, down and diagonally, never backwards.
2. (9 min) Pupils find the 15 words alone or in pairs and cross them off the list.
3. (4 min) Pupils read the letters they did not use and write the secret message.
4. (1 min) Read the message aloud together and check it with page 2.

Adaptations

[S] Nine of the 15 words run diagonally: if a pupil is stuck, say "look for the diagonal words". Pairs can share the work: one pupil reads the list, the other searches.

[A] Pupils cover the word list and find as many words as they can without it, then check with the list.

Materials & prerequisites

One copy of page 1 per pupil, in colour or in the low-ink version; keep page 2 for yourself. A pencil (pupils will cross out letters). Pupils should know the alphabet and simple Christmas words.