Ever need a puzzle to review content area vocabulary, spelling words or for a class newspaper or other school-related publication? Then look no further than Puzzlemaker, an online puzzle generator that both teachers and students can utilize to create a myriad of customized brain teasers including word searches, criss crosses, math squares, mazes and more!

Besides being a freebie, the best thing about this Discovery Education resource is its simplicity. Just select the type of puzzle you would like to design from the menu, complete the template provided, and just like that, you have a creation that is ready to be downloaded and printed for classroom (or homework) usage.

My kind of tool: Quick, easy, free, useful and fun—just like this post! Get your puzzle on here.

Classroom Connection:

OK, so Puzzlemaker is not exactly the best example of a really high tech or super academic tool, but it can be a valuable, time-saving resource nevertheless—especially when there is a need to review and/or demonstrate knowledge of curricular content. Teachers can generate topic-specific puzzles for their students and/or provide them with the opportunity to create a puzzle that can be shared with classmates.

Oh, and just in case the Common Core police ask: Solving puzzles really can involve the use of several important skills including vocabulary, reasoning, spelling and word attack skills to name a few.