School Word Search | Free Printable
About This Worksheet
These are the words a child meets on their first days of school -- the objects on the desk and the people in the room. Recognising them in print before term starts takes a little of the strangeness out of the classroom.
The puzzle sits at the easy end: a small grid, straightforward placements, and words short enough to hold in mind while scanning. It suits a child who has finished one or two word searches and no longer needs a hand with every word.
The word bank has 6 words in a 10x10 grid: Pen, Book, Desk, Glue, Paper, Pencil.
Skills Practiced
How to Use This Worksheet
- Find the real object first. Before hunting for BOOK in the grid, go and fetch a book. Matching the written word to the thing itself is the Montessori move here.
- Say the first letter, then look. Teach them to hold the opening letter in mind and scan for just that one. It narrows the search from the whole grid to a handful of spots.
- Let them mark their own finds. A circle, a highlighter, whatever they like. Visible progress is what keeps a five-year-old at the table.
- Use it the week before school. Pull it out a few days before term. It turns nerves into something to do.
Not sure this is the right level? Our guide to free printable word search puzzles for kids walks through every age in turn — see what to expect from a word search for 5 year olds or a word search for 6 year olds, and which puzzle to print next.