Make Your Own Crossword Puzzle
In this activity you will create your own crossword puzzle on the computer,
using relative clauses and new vocabulary you have learned in previous
lessons. You will then solve one of your classmate’s puzzles.
Read ALL of the instructions below and make sure you understand them
before you start working.
1. Writing the clues and answers for your crossword puzzle
Work in pairs
Choose a topic for your crossword puzzle.
Write clues and answers (one word) for your crossword puzzle in
your notebook. Requirements:
 Write a minimum of 6 clues.
 All the clues or answers should new words you have learned
this year.
Example:
clue: Bill Gates is the _____________ of the Microsoft
Corporation.
answer: founder
 At least 3 clues should include relative clauses (with three
DIFFERNT relative pronouns: who / which / where / that /
when).
Example 1:
Clue: He is a famous singer who died last year
(combined from these two sentences: He is a very famous
singer. He died last year.)
Answer: Michael Jackson
Example 2:
Clue: He is an actor who starred in the movie Titanic.
Answer: Leonardo Dicaprio


Your clues should relate to your topic as much as possible.
Try to be as creative as you can to challenge your
classmates.
2. Creating your crossword puzzle on the computer
Go to http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/crossword/
Press on ‘CREATE YOUR OWN’ tab at the bottom part of the page
Enter your name and the name of your puzzle (should be named
after your topic) and press BEGIN.
Enter the words that make up your puzzle (the answers to your
clues) one at a time. Type the word and then press ADD WORD.
When you are done entering all your words, press CREATE
PUZZLE.
Press ENTER CLUES.
Enter the clues for each one of your words.
When you are done press FINISH.
You can now view the puzzle you have created.
Press PRINT and print your puzzle.
3. Solving a puzzle
Switch places with another pair in class.
Solve the puzzle created by your classmates on the computer (the
puzzles are interactive).
 In order to write a word, click with the mouse on the word
number in the puzzle.
 When you are done you can use the CHECK PUZZLE button
on the top of the window.
Assessment Rubric:
Relevance
Vocabulary
Grammar
Creativity
Criteria
Grade
Level
5
On Target
to Topic
All clues /
answers are
related to
topic
The puzzle includes 6
clues or more
The required
vocabulary is used in
3 or more clues
The puzzle
includes 3
different
relative pronouns
Half of the
clues /
answers
relate to
the topic
The puzzle includes
4 clues
The required
vocabulary is used in
2 clues
The puzzle
includes 2
different
relative pronouns
None of the
clues /
answers
relate to
the topic
The puzzle includes
2 clues
The required
vocabulary is not used
at all
The puzzle
includes 0
relative pronouns
or includes more
relative
pronouns, but
none are used
correctly
All the relative
pronouns are
used correctly
All clues
are original
and
creative. It
was very
challenging
and fun to
solve the
puzzle.
4
3
On Your
Way
2
1
Starting
Out
All the relative
pronouns are
used correctly
Half of the
clues are
original and
creative. It
was quite
challenging
and fun to
solve the
puzzle.
Most clues
were not
creative. It
wasn’t
challenging
to solve
the puzzle