The educational value of crossword puzzles is evident when considering the multiple learning skills involved in both creating and solving these puzzles. No longer just for fun, crossword puzzles have achieved the status of a national pastime in the US and other countries. Its popularity began around the 1920s and continues to grow today.
Crossword puzzles, at a very basic level, can be a fun way to introduce word skills to younger students, while older ones can add to their vocabulary pool. Meanwhile, adults enjoy these puzzles so much that they work on millions of puzzle copies in magazines, newspapers, and books every day. In today’s technologically advanced world, there are even computer programs available, such as Discovery Education’s Puzzlemaker, that allow teachers to create customizable puzzles to support classroom instruction for all grades.
The educational value of these puzzles reaches into many skill areas. Some of the main areas in which solving and/or creating puzzles can benefit educational efforts include:
1- Construction of vocabulary
2- Spelling skills
3- Reading skills
4- Word comprehension skills
5- Dictionary skills
6- Reasoning skills
Part of the educational value of crossword puzzles is inherent in the very words that are used to form the puzzles. A person trying to solve a puzzle must first understand the clues that lead to the answers, and then use the proper spelling to solve the puzzle. Memory and recall also come into play when solving themed crosswords: a science teacher might create a crossword that uses scientific terms to coordinate with the lessons, while a history-related crossword might have terms from a period of time in particular, with historical figures, key place. names and other relevant historical facts.
All types of learners can benefit from the educational value of puzzles. Using crossword puzzles within education can be a great advantage: teachers have great teaching tools at their disposal, while allowing students to learn while having fun!