Animal Word Search

This animal word search hides 12 creatures in a big grid, from a tiny fox to a huge elephant. Words run across, down and on a slant, and all of them read forward. The large letters print clearly, so a young reader can follow each line with a finger.

The list is Bear, Elephant, Fox, Giraffe, Lion, Monkey, Parrot, Rabbit, Tiger, Turtle, Wolf and Zebra. Fox is the quick one at three letters. Elephant takes the longest, with eight.

Play this animal word search as a game

Turn the sheet into a short game with a friend. Set a timer for five minutes and see who can find the most names. Or take turns, with each player finding one word and then passing the pencil.

Younger kids can make animal sounds as they go. Find the lion, then roar. It is silly, and that is the point. A laugh keeps small children at the table longer than any reward chart.

Tips for tricky words

• Start with Zebra, since a Z is easy to spot.
• Look for the double F in Giraffe.
• Watch for Tiger and Turtle, which both begin with T.
• Do the longest words last, once the grid feels familiar.

Turn it into a science lesson

Each name can start a good talk. Ask which animals live in a group and which live alone. Sort the 12 into land animals, tree climbers and big cats. Then ask what each one eats. A rabbit nibbles plants, while a wolf hunts for meat.

Teachers can use the list for a quick spelling check too. Fold the sheet so the words are hidden and read each name aloud. If you want a fact to share, the page on animals on Wikipedia is a fine place to start.

Good times to use it

Pack one for a zoo trip and do it on the ride home. Keep a few in a bag for a restaurant, or leave one out on a rainy day. It needs nothing but a pencil. Kids who finish early can draw their favorite animal on the back.

A clear plastic sleeve and a dry erase marker make the sheet last for many turns. That saves paper in a busy classroom, and it means you only print one copy per table.

Checking the answers

The answer key is the colored picture on this page. Each animal has its own bright band, so you can see at a glance where it hides. Keep it out of sight until the end.

Animal facts to share as you go

A little fact can turn a quick puzzle into a real talking point, so try one each time a word is found. A giraffe sleeps for only a short time each day. Parrots can copy sounds they hear, and many live for decades. Turtles carry their homes on their backs. A group of wolves is called a pack, and a group of lions is called a pride.

Ask your child which animal would make the funniest pet, and why. Ask which one is the fastest, the tallest and the heaviest. There are no wrong answers in this game, only good reasons. Children who love animals will happily talk for far longer than the puzzle takes.

For a bigger project, let each child pick one name from the list. They can look it up in a library book, draw it and write three true facts. Pin the results along a wall and you have a small class zoo.

More to try

Animal fans can move on to the animal coloring pages, or try the ocean word search for life under the waves. Our main word search printable has a cheerful mix of everyday words.

Questions