Thanksgiving Word Search for Kids, Ages 5-6 (Free Printable)

How to use this

• What it builds

  A seasonal word search that doubles as a reading warm-up. To find FEAST the child holds the whole word in mind, names its first letter, scans the grid for it, and then checks the letters next to it, which practises left-to-right and top-to-bottom tracking and matches letters to the sounds they are learning. The six words are all things on a Thanksgiving table or in a fall yard (PIE, YAM, CORN, LEAF, PLATE, FEAST), so the list also builds holiday vocabulary a five or six year old will meet at home and in school. Words only run across and down, never backwards or diagonally, so the task stays a search and not a puzzle about direction.

  Read more

• Ready when

  A child who knows most letter names and can read or sound out three to five letter words with help. The easy CVC word search in this set is a good step before this one.

• How to run it

  Print one copy. Read the first word together, say its first letter, and let the child look for it. A coloured pencil to circle each word works well. If they are stuck, ask which letter the word starts with and point to the row to look in. Take turns reading the finished list aloud. Five to ten minutes covers the page. Both UK (A4) and US (Letter) paper sizes print from the same download.

  Read more