Summary: Teaching kids is not an easy task, but this task can be made easier with some
effective tools like crossword puzzles.
The popular saying of Albert Einstein reads that ‘It is the supreme art of the teacher to
awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge’. Many teachers these days have
understood the importance of using some teaching aids that can make reading enjoyable for
the kids. Generally, when things are taught in a fun-filled and playful manner, kids will
never forget the concepts. This is where crossword puzzles can turn out to be excellent
learning tools for children. If you are a teacher or if you are an individual preparing yourself
for teaching position, here are some details that will help you:
When you encourage the love of answering puzzles in your students, you are surely finding
the right tool that will help in overall development. For after-school summer activities like
camping and reading, puzzles can turn out to be excellent tools. Apart from making sure
that kids will enjoy, it is important that you will have to make sure that the activity that you
choose should be engaging and should contribute towards the growth of your students. This
is what crossword puzzles are all about.
Identify the appropriate crossword puzzle:
In general, crossword puzzles will be in the same format and they have boxes that go up
and down. Clues for finding words across will also be given and with the help of the clues
the words should be identified for arriving at the complete solution. As you are looking for
some crossword puzzles for children, you can find them in comic books meant for children
and even there are also websites that are specially meant for offering these sorts of puzzles
and games especially for kids. So, you should be careful about choosing the puzzles that are
appropriate for the age of the kids in your class.
Some online gaming portals will have the facility to choose the age of the kid, such that
appropriate puzzle will show up. You can choose such a type of website as well to find the
suitable puzzle for your class children.
Initiate learning of new words through crossword:
These are stated to be excellent tools to introduce new words to children. Not just children,
adults can also learn new words when they choose crosswords that are meant for adults.
For teaching concepts:
It is not essential that you should use crossword puzzles only for teaching some English
words. But, you can also, use them as a means of teaching some concepts to the children.
The reason is that they can easily learn facts for tests through these puzzles besides
enjoying the fun aspect associated with them. Puzzles are known to kindle and inspire kids
on how to use rationality, perceptive, language, spelling and organizational skills. Even,
they will understand the elimination technique as well when they are taught how to use this
great educational tool.
As they are associated with recreational activity, they will make the process of learning less
intimidating for children. In addition, crossword puzzles have the benefit of appealing to
varied learning styles.
Educational value of crossword puzzles:
• Initially, solving crossword puzzles will involve different useful skills inclusive of word
attack, spelling, reasoning and vocabulary.
• To be able to solve such a puzzle, it is important that the kid should be able to
identify and understand the clues. Even though, initially children will have difficulty in
identifying the clues, but with regular practice and when you teach them, they can
do the same without difficulty.
• With regular practice, they will also be able to differentiate between similar words
and phrases.
• In addition, they will also learn the correct spelling for different words in a playful
manner. The reason is that only when they use the correct spelling in the puzzle,
they can arrive at the complete puzzle.
• Other skills needed for solving these puzzles include making interfaces, evaluation of
choices and drawing conclusions.
Apart from these benefits, the important benefit associated with using them as learning
tools in classroom is that they are recreational, besides being less intimidating for children
as review tools.
Active learning:
Students, who are generally hesitant at review sessions, flashcards and practice tests with
teacher, will find puzzle-solving to be less threatening as it will be more like a play. Each
and every kid in the classroom will involve in active learning. Studies show that visual
learners are generally powerful in solving puzzles and they will feel highly satisfied when
they are able to solve one, which in turn will boost their confidence in performing well in
academics.
Suitable for different styles of learners:
Generally, when we take a classroom, each kid will have different styles of learning.
However, it will be difficult for a teacher to identify the style of each of her student,
particularly when the class strength is huge. But, not just for visual learners, crossword
puzzles as learning tools in classroom can be suitable for other types of learners as well, like
those mentioned below:
• Auditory learners will enjoy step-by-step reasoning and so when they are given the
opportunity to solve crossword puzzles in a sequential manner, they will learn
concepts easily.
• Furthermore, kids with kinesthetic learning skills will enjoy multitasking strategies
needed for solving the puzzle.
Besides these learners, the teachers also have the benefit of customizing the crossword
puzzles appropriate for each student to encourage a good learning.
Sharpening mental skills:
When a teacher uses this puzzle as the educational tool in her class, she will be in a position
to make sure that the mental skills of her students will sharpen.
• When a kid is taught to learn each clue carefully, after looking at the corresponding
slots, he/she can know the number of letters the answer will have.
• In addition, the child should be taught that for each letter that he/she fills in
correctly, an additional clue will be open for the corresponding boxes.
• Kids will love the challenge associated with successfully completing the entire puzzle.
• With enough creativity and practice, the child will sooner or later arrive at the right
solution.
So, crossword puzzles can be used as excellent teaching tool in classroom to make the
process of learning less intimidating for children.