How to Create Word Search Games
Learning how to create word search games is really easy. There are sites on the Internet where you can make your own word search games for free. Following is an explanation of just a few of these sites.
Word Search Games
Word search games are fun for all ages. Teachers use them to introduce new vocabulary words, practice on spelling words, and to help students become more familiar with sight words. Word search games can help teach concepts like: synonyms, antonyms, common or proper nouns, adverbs, adjectives, etc.
Another great thing about word search games is their entertainment value. Yes, they can sharpen your mind and you can learn stuff, but they are fun, too. They are great at parties, especially birthday parties, wedding showers and baby showers. They are good to kill some time when waiting or while traveling in a car, bus, or train.
How to Create Word Search Games
One really good website is Word Search Fun. There you can learn how to create word search games. You have to sign up to make games, but it is free. You pick the size of your puzzle and give them the words you want to include. There are 30 categories of puzzles made by other people. Some examples are:
- Animals and Pets (4231)
- Baby Shower Fun (15060)
- Birthday Games (1170)
- Books and Literature (2951)
- Computers (1042)
- Geography (1817)
- History (3453)
- Language Skills (3717)
- Miscellaneous (19996)
- Movies (1685)
- Music (2277)
- Photography (83)
- Science (3811)
- Sports (2868)
- Travel and Places (1055)
The numbers in parentheses are the number of available puzzles made by other users. As you can see from the examples, there are literally thousands of games to choose from. Puzzlemaker is another source where anyone can learn how to create word search games. It is free online but you can buy a CD-Rom for personal use for $49.95. It also offers criss-cross, double, fallen phrases, letter tiles, and hidden message puzzles.The size of the puzzle is one option when making a game.Your game can be up to 40 by 40.
Next, you have to decide if the words can share letters or not. If no words share letters, they are easier to solve. You have three levels: use each letter only once, share letters occasionally, or share letters as much as possible.
The next options are for the format and are: HTML, text (which you would chose if you are planning to cut and paste the game to another place), and lowercase letters. After you have entered your words and the puzzle has been made, there is an automatic filter that searches for inappropriate words.
You still need to proof it, and if you see something you do not want, you simply hit “back” on your browser and click the “create” button again.
Playing Word Search Games Online
A good place to play word search games online is Education Place. Education Place has many puzzles on eight levels. For example, Level 1 has two and three letter words and Level 8 has up to eleven and twelve letter words, like: accommodate and affectionate. You just click and drag to circle the word and when you have done this, the word is automatically removed from the list. There is a button that gives the answers immediately so you can get a quick hint, then go back to the puzzle.
Black Dog's Word Search Games is a fun site. It has games to play and a puzzle maker. It has over 100 subjects of games to choose from including: hard to spell words, movies, books, space, geology, cookies, and holidays. It has a timer that you can stop and start and detailed instructions. It also has a rescramble button that will give you as new puzzle with the same words. If you get stuck, you click the word you can’t find and then click the “find words” button.