Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Christmas Word Search
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Christmas Word Search is a free printable literacy activity for the festive season. Children hunt through a grid of letters to find Christmas words. It builds spelling, careful reading and patient looking, and all it needs is a pencil. Page 2 is for the grown-up and holds notes on using the sheet, help ideas and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well, and coloured pencils or highlighters make the finds easy to see.
What is on the sheet
Children search a grid of letters for Christmas words and mark each one when they find it. They need to look closely, hold the shape of a word in their head and check each letter in turn. It is a calm, quiet task that suits a wet afternoon, a classroom settling activity or a break from busy December routines.
Why use a word search for spelling?
A word search asks children to look at a word letter by letter. To spot it in a grid, they have to know which letters come first, which come next and where the word ends. That close attention to letter order is exactly what spelling needs. It also gives children another reason to meet a word several times, which helps it become familiar.
Christmas is a good theme because the vocabulary is already in children's heads. They hear these words in songs, stories, shops and at school, so many are easy to say before they are easy to spell. Seeing them written down links the spoken word to its spelling. The puzzle format keeps the practice light, so children do not feel they are being tested.
Skills and curriculum link
- Spelling
- Letter recognition
- Visual scanning
- Reading seasonal vocabulary
- Concentration
- Persistence
Ideas to help children search
- Use a finger or rulerSlide a finger or ruler along each row to keep the eyes on one line. This stops children jumping around the grid and missing letters.
- Hunt for the first letterPick a word, then look only for its first letter. When you find one, check the letters around it to see if the rest of the word follows.
- Say the word and spell itSay the word aloud, then spell it letter by letter before searching. Hearing the letters helps children know exactly what to look for.
- Mark as you goCircle or highlight each word as it is found, and tick it off the list of words. Seeing progress keeps children motivated and stops them searching for the same word twice.
Key words
- GridA pattern of squares in rows and columns. Each square holds one letter.
- RowA line of squares going across the page from side to side.
- ColumnA line of squares going down the page from top to bottom.
- SpellingWriting the letters of a word in the right order.
- SyllableOne beat in a word. The word banana has three syllables.
- VowelThe letters a, e, i, o and u. Most words need at least one.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has notes, help ideas and a stretch idea.
- Look at the sheet together. Ask your child what they already know about word searches and how they plan to start.
- Let them choose a way to search, such as by first letter, by row or by running a finger along each line. Encourage them to circle each word they find.
- Talk about the words as they go. Ask them to say each word and spell it aloud, and to say what it makes them think of at Christmas.
- Come back to any words they have not found later on. A fresh look often helps, and finishing a tricky one feels good.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Choose one word at a time and spell it out loud first. Look for its first letter, then check the letters next to it. Use a ruler or finger to follow each row. Start with the shortest words and take a break if eyes get tired.
To stretch confident children
Make your own Christmas word search on squared paper. Choose some festive words, write them into the grid, then fill the gaps with random letters. Swap with a friend or family member and see how quickly they can find every word.
Make it a game
Play a race. Two players each have a pencil and look for words on the same sheet, using different colours. Each player circles words they find. When every word is found, the player with the most circled words wins. Check each other's spelling.
Talk about it
- Which Christmas word was easiest to find, and why do you think that was?
- Which word was hardest to spot? What helped you find it in the end?
- Can you spell one of the words without looking at the sheet?
- What other Christmas words can you think of that are not on the sheet?
- Which words do you hear in Christmas songs or stories?
- Can you think of a sentence that uses two of the words you found?
Take it off the page
Christmas word cards
Write festive words on small cards, one per card. Turn them over, pick one and spell it out loud. Then write it from memory and check it against the card.
Make a Christmas acrostic
Choose a word, write its letters down the side of the page and think of a festive word or phrase for each letter. Draw a small picture to go with it.
Letter hunt in a Christmas card
Look through old Christmas cards and find words you recognise. Read them aloud and say which letters they start with.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first few words, then let them lead. Praise careful looking, not just speed. If they get frustrated, find one word together and let them carry on. Stop when interest fades and return later.
Teachers
Use it as a December settling task, an early finisher activity or a quiet filler during busy weeks. It supports spelling and vocabulary work at a light pace. Pair children to share strategies, or ask them to write a sentence using words they found.
Home educators
It fits easily into a December routine as a short, quiet task between other activities. Print a few copies so siblings can compete or help each other. Use the talk prompts to link it with festive stories, songs and family traditions.
Where this fits in learning
Before a word search, children need to know their letters and the sounds they make, and be able to read short familiar words. Matching letters in a grid builds on this. Simple spotting games, such as finding a letter in a page of print, are a good warm up.
After it, children can move on to making their own word searches, practising spelling lists with look, say, cover, write, check, or writing festive sentences, poems and cards. Word searches are a gentle step towards the longer, more independent spelling work that follows.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- Who is the Christmas Word Search for?
It suits children who are learning to read and spell and can recognise letters in a grid. Younger children may need help, while confident readers can work alone. Choose it if your child enjoys puzzles and festive activities.
- Do I need anything besides the sheet?
No. A pencil is enough. A ruler or finger helps children follow rows, and coloured pencils or highlighters make found words easier to see. Black and white printing works well, so you do not need a colour printer.
- How long does it take?
Children work at their own pace, so there is no set time. Some will finish in one go, others will want to come back later. Stop when interest fades and pick it up again another day.
- What is on page 2?
Page 2 is for the grown-up. It has notes on how to use the sheet, help ideas for children who find it hard and a stretch idea for those who want more of a challenge.
- How does this help with spelling?
Searching for a word means looking at its letters in order, which builds familiarity with how it is spelt. Saying and spelling each word aloud as they search adds to the practice. It is a gentle way to meet words again and again.
- What if my child finds it too hard?
Start with one word at a time, and spell it aloud before searching. Use a ruler or finger to follow each row, and look for the first letter before checking the rest. Take breaks, and finish another day if needed.
- Can I use it in the classroom?
Yes. It works as a settling activity, an early finisher task or a quiet filler in December. Pairs can share strategies, or children can use the words they find in their own sentences. It is free to print.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.