Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123
Curriculum Mini-Lessons

Title: Crossword Puzzle
Subject: Social Studies, Reading
Grade Level: 5

Curriculum Objectives: The student will be able to:
a) locate appropriate sites from an internet source
b) determine important details from a text
c) summarize information
d) create specific clues for a crossword puzzle
e) narrow searches relevant to information being searched for
f) use multiple documents simultaneously
g) create a crossword puzzle
Learning will be demonstrated by the quality of the crossword
puzzle’s clues and correct completion of the crossword puzzle

Activity/Directions:
1. Log on http://nettrekker.com Search for Benjamin Franklin.
2. Open AppleWorks/word processing
3. Read appropriate articles on Nettrekker. Highlight important
details. Copy/paste on AppleWorks document.
4. Continue identifying 15-20 details about Ben Franklin.
Copy and paste each detail
5. When all information has been copied and pasted, print
the document.
6. Highlight the words to be used as clues (10-12) for the crossword
puzzle. Remind students that dates should not be used and
clues need to be specific, but short.
7. Circle the “answer” to each clue on the printed copy.

NOTE: The next steps must be completed in one session. You
cannot save on Puzzlemaker.
8. Log on http://puzzlemaker.com
9. Select criss cross puzzle
10. Follow the 4 steps listed:
1. Title--give your puzzle a title (Include your name as the author)
2. # of squares--leave as 50 height and 50 width
3. Size of squares--leave as 30
4. Write the answer to your clue (If your answer is more than
one word, DO NOT leave a space between the words)
Skip a space and type the clue--All of this must fit on one line
Continue to type the answer, space, clue until all answers and clues have been typed.
5. Click on Create My Puzzle
6. Exchange puzzles and solve.

Resources: Nettrekker, Puzzlemaker

End Product: The student will have a list of facts about Ben Franklin which can be used to make a mind map or business card about Ben Franklin. The student will also have created a crossword puzzle for a classmate to solve.

Created by Marilyn Nowak
Last Updated on October 18, 2007