Compound Words Magic Square for 3rd, 4th, and 5th

Use this activity/puzzle after you have taught the concept of compound words to check student understanding or to give your students more practice.

This Magic Square includes the following compound words:
Magic Square #1
1. racetrack
2. nightgown
3. handshake
4. workbench
5. backyard
6. windmill
7. necktie
8. seafood
9. earring
10. sidewalk
11. teaspoon
12. overcoat
13. waterfall
14. playpen
15. yearbook
16. skyscraper
17. downtown
18. sunrise
19. stepladder
20. baseball
21. shoelace
22. daydream
23. railroad
24. thumbtack

Magic Square #2
1. aircraft
2. motorcycle
3. suitcases
4. horseback
5. afternoon
6. textbook
7. grandmother
8. teardrop
9. watermelon
10. yardstick
11. windshield
12. playground
13. toothbrush
14. teammate
15. dishwasher
16. necklace
17. saltwater
18. downstairs
19. fingerprint
20. spaceship
21. fisherman
22. sunlight
23. thunderstorm
24. weekend

Magic Square #3
1. keyboard
2. firecracker
3. boxcar
4. gingerbread
5. toothpaste
6. chalkboard
7. headphones
8. worldwide
9. earthquake
10. handwriting
11. skyline
12. sandpaper
13. newsletter
14. homesick
15. lifeguard
16. rattlesnake
17. flashlight
18. layout
19. dragonfly
20. password
21. breakfast
22. swordfish
23. endless
24. surfboard

**There are three different magic squares with this unit!**

**Each magic square requires students to match 24 compound words!**

**Please note that there are purposely words to try and trick your students! Such as thumb+tack/thumtack, backyard/yard+back, playpen/playp+en, and more.

Preparation and Storage: You will need to print off the number of copies you need. (I recommend printing them on cardstock and laminating them.) I have used these as individual work, partner work, and small group work. They also work well for students who finish early or for use during center time. Cut the magic squares out and put them into plastic baggies for students' use. I put each set in its own plastic baggie. Then I put all of these baggies and one original sheet in a manila envelope with the name of the activity on the front. This way I have the answer key and all materials readily available.

Directions to Play: Give students the cut-up magic square sheet. Tell them they need to put the square back together. The first time you have the students complete one of these, I suggest drawing out a 4x4 square on the board so they understand what it should look like. You can also give them the hint (because I have found some do not figure this out!) that the letters will all be facing the correct direction.

Correcting Student Work: To easily check a student's completed work, keep an original copy of the magic square sheet they are working on. This way you can immediately check to see if the letters are in the correct order or not.

Thanks for looking!
~HoJo~