Martin Luther King Jr. Day Word Search

Use it after reading a short biography or picture book so the words already mean something. Easy takes about five minutes. As children find words like DREAM or JUSTICE, ask what they remember about that idea. On a day of service, a sheet can wait in the car or at the table. The 5 versions switch gives each table a different board, the answer key helps with checking, and the Solve online button is a good fit for a shared screen.

The list pairs simple ideas (LOVE, KIND, FAIR, HOPE) with the larger vocabulary of the movement: EQUALITY, JUSTICE, PROTEST, RESPECT and LEADERS. Children often know the words DREAM and FREE but have not seen JUSTICE or COURAGE in print. Finding them gives a reason to define each one. Look-alike words such as EQUAL and EQUALITY, or LEADERS and LEARN, push children to read to the last letter. The meaning comes from the discussion around the puzzle.

Easy fits first and second grade, with short words like LAW, HOPE and HELP. Medium turns on diagonals, which is where PEACE and VOICE start to hide, and still reads well in third and fourth grade. Hard adds backwards words and longer vocabulary for fifth grade and up. To match a text you are reading, use My own words and type up to 30 terms.

How should I introduce it to young children?

Read a short, age-appropriate book first, then offer Easy. Words like LOVE, KIND and FAIR give early readers a way in, and you can talk about each one after they find it.

Can I add names or terms from a unit?

Yes. Use My own words to enter up to 30 names, places or terms from your reading. The board is rebuilt with your list and the answer key follows it.

Does it work for a day of service?

It works well as a quiet task before or after volunteering. Print a few sheets, or use the Solve online button on a tablet for children who like to solve on screen.