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This feature is directed towards teachers of basketry who are on the lookout for new teaching techniques that will be of help when it comes time to introduce new terms or vocabulary to your students. When you are introducing new concepts in your basketry classes a word search puzzle can be an effective instructional tool, as well as a fun way to break the ice in a class of new students. In these examples I used a software program titled WordQuest 2.0 which makes the creation of a word search puzzle from a customized word list a simple task. You can create a separate puzzle for specific classes with a list of words selected individually for the techniques, materials and concepts you are planning to teach. There are a variety of options which allow you to set the level of difficulty, font, select a word maze or word tangle. In the WordMaze option the puzzle is solved by drawing circles around the complete words either across, up and down or on the diagonal.
The word list can be anything you choose up to fifty words long. To make things a little more interesting you can include a mystery word or phrase with a hint. You can even choose to scramble the clues in the word list.
The Word Tangle option creates a slightly different type of puzzle. As with WordMaze, the object is to circle all the words from the word list. In this game, however, you start by seeing only the letters that begin each word. Another difference is that you are placing each word on the grid by circling the squares where you think it fits.
The puzzles can be printed out from within the WordQuest 2.0 program or can be exported to a word processing program. If you are playing on your computer there are even more options of color, drawing rubber bands around the words onscreen as you find them, a timer and audible rewards when you finish the puzzle. The wordlist shortens when you identify a word making it easier to determine the remaining words you have left to find. This program is only available in PC
format. It can be downloaded off the Parsons site or can be purchased from their
print catalog. If you are interested in using this type of word puzzle in your
classes this type of word puzzle program is available from a variety of vendors and in
forms to run on all platforms. The next time you schedule a class, offer your
students an amusing way to reinforce the topic you are teaching with a wordsearch puzzle. Other Links
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Copyright © 1998-2009 Susi Nuss. All rights reserved.
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