Back To School Word Search Puzzles

Back to school word search puzzles can be a great educational activity for the beginning of a school year.

Below you will find free printable back to school word search puzzles for students in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade. The words used in each puzzle correspond to the back to school themed spelling words of each of those respective grades.

If you have an older elementary aged student, here’s a 5th grade and 6th grade back to school word search. Or try this more challenging word search with 35 hidden words.

Back To School Word Search 2nd Grade

This easy back to school word search is perfect for second graders:

• large print letters
• only 10 words to find and circle in a 12 X 12 grid of uppercase letters
• the words on the puzzle are the second grade back to school themed spelling words
• words are hidden horizontally, vertically, and diagonally, in the direction easiest to read. There are no backwards words.

The puzzle can be downloaded free below.

If you’re interested, you can also snag this 2nd grade back to school crossword puzzle that uses these same words. Or for even more spelling practice, you can print off this back to school word unscramble page.

Back To School Word Search 3rd Grade

This back to school word search is ideal for a student in third grade. The words of the puzzle are from these grade 3 themed spelling words.

The 12 words are hidden vertically, horizontally, and diagonally in a 12 X 12 grid of uppercase letters.

There are no backwards words and all of the words are in the direction easiest to read.

You can download the pdf of this puzzle completely free below. There’s an answer sheet that comes with it.

Back To School Word Search 4th Grade

And finally this word search is designed with a fourth grader in mind. The words are the back to school themed words of these grade 4 spelling words.

There are 14 school words hidden horizontally, vertically, and diagonally, forwards and backwards. They are hidden in a 14 X 14 grid of uppercase letters.

The 4th grade puzzle can be downloaded free below.

Benefits of a Word Search

A school word search for kids is an easy print and go activity that benefits both teachers and students.

Benefits For Teachers

Teachers can have one handy for when they need their students to work quietly and independently for a time.

Benefits For Students

Students will probably appreciate the relaxing nature of a word search puzzle, that will give them a few minutes to unwind from the excitement the new school year brings. Plus they can be quite fun to do.

But a word search is not just a fun time-filler. It also has educational benefit as well. Since kids will literally be studying the letters that make up each word, a word search is especially helpful for students to work on spelling.

Printable Back to School Word Searches

The back to school word search puzzles for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade can be downloaded free below, using any of the forms below.

The pdf includes answers.

More Back to School Word Puzzles

Here are some more fun printable back to school activities and word puzzles for kids:

• crossword puzzles
• word scrambles
• fill in puzzles
• difficult word search
• 5th grade word search
• 6th grade word search

Back to School Word Searches Answer Keys

Looking for the answer keys for these back to school word searches?

2nd Grade Answer Key

3rd Grade Answer Key

4th Grade Answer Key