The right step up for first graders
First graders move quickly from sounding out three-letter words to reading longer ones with blends and vowel teams. This puzzle follows that shift, using five- and six-letter words like train, cloud, plant and friend. The grid is larger than a kindergarten puzzle, but words still run only across and down, so children can succeed on their own.
Phonics to point out
The list has plenty to notice. Train has the "ai" sound, cloud has "ou" and green has "ee". Before starting, ask children to find the words with a blend at the start, like train, plant, smile and bread. It takes only a minute, and the puzzle becomes a phonics review.
When to use it
- Morning work while you take attendance.
- A choice for early finishers at any time of day.
- Indoor recess on a rainy day.
Ready for a harder puzzle?
Change the difficulty to Medium to add diagonal words. To match your spelling list, simply replace the words and the grid rebuilds itself. Press "New sheet" to make different versions for each table, so neighbours can't give away the answers.