Create a Crossword

Your assignment is to create a crossword puzzle using the first thirteen vocabulary words we have learned (the whole front of the definitions sheet).

Step 1. Get out your vocabulary sheet so you can easily see what the words are.

Step 2. Make a working copy of your puzzle. Start by looking at the words. Look for letters that different words have in common. Taking a piece of lines paper, try arranging the words in a crossword format. Start with two words that have a letter or letters in common. Arrange the words so that they cross each other at a letter they have in common. For example:

e l e c t r i c a l

n

e

r

g

y

Now build from there. You can add more words down and across to the words you already have linked. Try not to have words across or down that are right next to each other. Think of it as a maze with dead ends. Remember, you may not be able to link all thirteen words so that the whole puzzle is connected. That's okay. The point is that each word links to at least one other word.

Step 3. Now that you have a working copy of what the solution to your puzzle will look like, you need to come up with clues. If you don't have room on your working copy of your puzzle, use another piece of paper and start listing your clues. Start with your "across" words and do them, in order, from top to bottom as if you were reading a book. You can use a definition as clue, or an example or a fill the blank type clue. Look at crossword puzzles in a newspaper for examples of clue types.

Now do your "down" words. Proof read your clues for spelling!

Step 4. You now have a complete working copy! Now you can design what the puzzle will look like. Of course, a crossword puzzle has blank spaces where the answers to the clues go. So let's start the final copy of your puzzle. You need to use a ruler and a pencil. You can use ink over your pencil marks when you are sure that you like what you've got. Remember to press lightly with your pencil so that you can erase neatly if necessary.

There are several styles you can choose. You can just have the blank spaces showing for the words. You can have blacked out spaces between the spaces for the words. The style is up to you.

a) Start by drawing the boxes around the letters on your working copy. This will give you a visual representation of what your puzzle may look like. It will also help to make sure you draw enough spaces for the words on your final copy.

b) Take your paper for your final copy and decide how much space you need for your clues. Draw a line or fold your paper at the point below which you want your clues to go. Some of you may need half the page, some will need less. Now draw a vertical line to split your clue section in half.

c) Above the clue section, start drawing your blank boxes for the letters of each word in your puzzle. You have already done this on your working copy so it should be a snap. Make the boxes an appropriate size to be able to print in (if we were to solve the puzzle). Be neat! Make sure the boxes for the letters are about the same size. Also, plan ahead. Make sure you have enough room for the puzzle and that it is centered (left to right) on the page. Use light pencil first and ink it afterwards. Remember to number the first box of every answer so that we know which clue goes with which answer space.

d) Write or print your clues in the clue section of your paper. Use light pencil first if you are not sure of yourself. You can ink it later. Write your "across" clues on one side and your "down" clues on the other side. These clues will have to be numbered according to where the answer is in the puzzle.

e) Now, decorate your puzzle with pictures or coloured drawings of different forms of energy.