🎨 Overview
This Grade 1 Colors Crossword uses simple clues and familiar color words. Children practice reading short clues, spelling in the grid, and noticing letter patterns (like bl- in BLACK or -ow in YELLOW). It’s a gentle way to build early literacy while talking about colors we see every day.
🎮 How to Play
- Look at the clue number (Across or Down).
- Say the clue out loud (e.g., “Sunflower color”).
- Think of the color and write one letter per box.
- Use crossing letters to check your answer.
- Keep going until every space is filled.
Tip: Write in UPPERCASE to keep letters clear and neat.
🎯 Learning Goals / Skills
- Reading clues and matching to a known color word
- Letter-by-letter spelling and sound awareness (bl-, gr-, pr-)
- Attention to direction (Across vs. Down) and left-to-right writing
- Color vocabulary for everyday talk and art time
📖 Picture Word List + Mini-Glossary
(Use real objects or classroom pictures to point and say the color.)
- YELLOW — bright like sunflowers or school buses
- GREEN — color of grass and leaves
- ORANGE — like oranges and pumpkins
- BLACK — very dark; the night sky
- TEAL — blue-green like some ocean water
- PINK — soft red, like roses or cotton candy
- BLUE — sky and ocean
- WHITE — snow and clouds
- GRAY — a mix of black and white, like rainy clouds
- PURPLE — red + blue mix; grapes and violets
- BROWN — tree trunks, soil, and chocolate
👩🏫 Teacher & Parent Tips
- Say & Spell: Read a clue together (“Sky-colored hue”). Student says BLUE, then taps each letter as they write B-L-U-E.
- Sound Hunt: Find blends and chunks: BL (BLACK/BLUE), GR (GREEN/GRAY), PR (PURPLE), -OW (YELLOW/BROWN).
- Color Sort: After solving, sort words into warm (YELLOW, ORANGE, PINK) and cool (BLUE, GREEN, TEAL, PURPLE).
- Art Link: Color a small swatch beside each word. Discuss light vs. dark (WHITE ↔ BLACK, GRAY in the middle).
- ELL Support: Use picture cards. Let children trace letters in the boxes before writing independently.
🖨 Printable & Answer Key Notes
- Use Print Blank for independent work or morning warm-ups.
- Use Print with Answers for quick review or a station check.
- For beginners, allow finger-spelling first, then pencil. Encourage neat uppercase letters.
🌟 Extension (Fast Finishers)
- Find It: Walk around the classroom to spot one item for each color word.
- Mix It: On a mini color wheel, show how BLUE + YELLOW → GREEN and RED + BLUE → PURPLE.
- My Color Book: Make a 6-page mini-book; one color per page with a drawing and the word copied from the crossword.
