This crossword puzzle worksheet can be used as a stand-alone lesson or quiz for students more accustomed with Animal Classifications or used as an online research project for those with less exposure to the topic.
Download Printable PDFWhy Crossword Puzzles are a Valuable Asset to STEM Learning
Crossword Puzzles not only present a great question/answer format, but do so in a way that emphasizes proper spelling and forces problem solving techniques such as drawing conclusions, making inferences and evaluating choices.
While a basic question/answer style quiz is a great way to test the mastery of a subject, even a well prepared child can finish with a sense of wonder as to whether or not all of their answers were correct. In the sometimes intimidating realm of Science or Computer Programming, being unsure of yourself and your answers in a testing environment can cement a distaste for testing or even challenge in general. With crossword puzzles, like most math, the child can actually check their work. They can make an inference as to the best choice for an answer and evaluate their word choice by carefully counting letters, checking their spelling and using other answers to assure themselves they have in fact answered correctly. On completion of a crossword puzzle a child may in fact learn more about the subject than they did at the start and can walk away with more confidence and a sense of completion.
We have quite a few crossword puzzles available on the site. Grab this one using the download button, check out the others in the list below or view our unique children’s puzzle book located here: Learning Through Puzzles
Other Crossword themes: Chemistry, The Periodic Table, Branches of Science
Related Worksheets

Children’s Puzzle: Square Maze
Feel free to download this and the other free printable mazes and puzzles located on our site and please note, the second page of the PDF is the solution so remember not to peek!

Alphabet Maze Worksheet – The Letter Y
Y is the letter of the day! Download our free, printable alphabet maze activity sheets. Mazes are not only fun for children but help to develop executive functioning processes. These decision-making processes include organizing, planning, time management skills, memory and

Spy Decoder Wheel – Random Alphabet Version
How the Decoder Works Once you’ve used the instructions on the PDF Download to assemble your decoder you can either share that decoder with a friend or have them make an identical one. To use it, simply line up a

Pattern Recognition Coloring
Working with patterns not only improves a child’s foundation for problem solving in all core learning activities, but expands the tool-set they have available when confronted with a new challenge. Just as an adult might have devised day-to-day strategies for

Spy Decoder Wheel – Random Symbol Version
This template is the Symbol Version of our Alphabet Decoder Wheel. There are three decoder wheels in all allowing for the coding and deciphering of secret messages using random alphabet letters, symbols or even your very own code! See the

World’s Hardest Puzzle? World’s Hardest Maze?
Probably not but you better pack a lunch because this one might take you a while! Enjoy this super-hard maze and note, the second page of the PDF is the solution so try not to peek! Solving mazes is a





