I love the beautiful month of May. Here in Kansas, the fresh cold winds are gone, as are the rains of early spring. May is known as the month of transition, the emerald birthstone, and holidays like Mother's Day, and Memorial Day. It is also recognized as Military Appreciation Month. Some other dates that hold significance are May 1st and May 5th.
May 1st is May Day, and marks the return of spring by the blossoming branches of the forsythia, or lilacs or daffodils popping their heads out of the ground, or the weather turning warmer.
May 5th is Cinco de Mayo (The Fifth of May). This day celebrates the victory of the Mexican army over the French army at The Battle of Puebla in 1862. Did you know that no U.S. president has ever died in the month of May? In every other month of the year, at least one U.S. president has died.
Have you heard about these fun dates in May?
- May 1: School Principals’ Day
- May 2: World Tuna Day
- May 8: No Socks Day
- May 14 (second Wednesday in May): Root Canal Appreciation Day
- May 14: Dance Like a Chicken Day
- May 28: Slugs Return from Capistrano Day
As I thought about May, I discovered that many words started with the word "MAY." In fact, after much research, I found 20 different words. Using those words, I created two May-themed crossword puzzles, appropriate for grades 7-10. One crossword puzzle includes a word bank which makes it easier to
solve while the more challenging one does not.
Even though the same vocabulary is used for each crossword, each grid is
laid out differently; so, you have two distinct puzzles. I've also included the answer keys for both puzzles.
Here are some ideas on how you might use these puzzles.
- Try giving the students the crossword with NO word bank to see how much they know.
- Use the crossword with the word bank as a review of May and its traditions.
- Use either crossword to work in pairs to complete the puzzle. Solving a crossword puzzle together is a great way to connect.
- Copy it and make it available for those students who finish their work early.
Above all, just have fun!
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