Cool Crosswords

What you need: 

• paper 
• ruler 
• pencil with eraser 
• pen or marker

What to do: 

1. Use the ruler and pen to make a crossword grid. It should be approximately 15 spaces across and 15 spaces down. 
2. Invite your child to select two words that have at least one letter in common.
3. She can then figure out how to "cross" the words by writing one horizontally and one vertically, so that the words share a letter where they intersect.
4. Next, encourage her to finish by adding as many more words as possible to the grid. For an extra challenge, she can create grids using with words that have a common topic, such as sports or music.

Learning benefits: 

• supports spelling abilities 
• develops analytical thinking and problem-solving skills 
• encourages creativity