Ecology Crossword Puzzle
The study of ecology includes a large number of vocabulary words that you might not be
familiar with. Making a crossword puzzle is an effective way to learn a large number of vocabulary
words and more interesting than just copying them from the board.
Your Task:
1) Form a group of 2 or 3.
2) Divide up tasks evenly.
3) Obtain two pieces of graph paper and one or two sheets of lines paper. (You may need more
for rough drafts or mistakes.)
4) Create a crossword puzzle using the list of vocabulary words below. (Hint: It is easier to put
in some long words first to get the puzzle started.) Try to keep the number of words across
and down about the same. The vocabulary words should end up as the answers in the puzzle.
The clue should be the definition of the word as given in the glossary of your text. You
should summarize the definition if it is long.
5) Your final product (one per group) should be:
a. A blank puzzle (on graph paper) with all the boxes drawn appropriately numbered.
b. A similar puzzle with all the answers filled in.
c. A sheet of clues. You may put the across and down clues on separate sheets if you
wish.
You can use an internet-based puzzle maker to complete the puzzle for you. You need to write down
all the answers and definitions and someone reliable to enter all the information. Try
http://www.armoredpenguin.com/crossword/
Or
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/CrissCrossSetupForm.asp
The vocabulary WORD BANK:
abiotic
density
niche
adaptation
detritus
omnivore
autotroph
ecosystem
organism
biomagnification
environment
population
biome
eutrophication
predation
biotic
food chain
symbiosis
carnivore
habitat
producer
carrying capacity
herbivore
succession (ecological)
consumer
keystone species
trophic level
decomposer
limiting factor