Fourth of July Crossword Puzzle (free printable)
A free Fourth of July crossword with thirteen words and clues for grades 3 to 7: independence, declaration, Jefferson, Philadelphia, fireworks, parade, flag, eagle and more, with an answer key.
To save a PDF, choose Print, then “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheets print.
All 13 words are in the crossword (13 × 18 squares).
About this set
Thirteen words for Independence Day, with clues that teach as well as puzzle: freedom from being ruled by another country, the 1776 document that said the colonies were free, the man who wrote most of it, the city where it was signed. The answers run from history (independence, declaration, Jefferson, Philadelphia, colonies) through symbols (flag, eagle, anthem) to celebration (fireworks, sparklers, parade, picnic, patriotic). Students who have read a short text about the day can solve most from memory. The word bank helps third graders, and the answer key lists every answer by number.
Grades: 3rd to 7th grade. Best in: June, July.
The words and clues
- Independence :
- Freedom from being ruled by another country
- Declaration :
- The 1776 document that told Britain the colonies were free
- Jefferson :
- The man who wrote most of the Declaration of Independence
- Fireworks :
- Colorful bursts of light and sound in the night sky
- Parade :
- Bands, floats and marchers moving down the street
- Flag :
- The banner with thirteen stripes and fifty stars
- Eagle :
- A large bird with a white head that is a symbol of the United States
- Philadelphia :
- The city where the Declaration was signed and the Liberty Bell is kept
- Colonies :
- The thirteen areas ruled by Britain before the United States began
- Picnic :
- A meal eaten outdoors, such as a holiday barbecue in the park
- Patriotic :
- Feeling or showing love and pride for your country
- Anthem :
- A song of pride for a country, like the Star-Spangled Banner
- Sparklers :
- Thin sticks that fizz with bright light when a grown-up lights them
How to use it: five ideas
- After a short text: students solve first from memory, then check unsolved clues against the text.
- History order: students arrange independence, declaration and colonies into a three-sentence summary of what happened in 1776.
- Symbols table: students sort the answers into history, symbols and celebration and add one more word to each group.
- Write a clue: students write a clue for “Liberty Bell” or “Hancock” using a library book, and swap puzzles.
- Summer-program use: print it for a camp or library program that runs the week of the holiday.
Related
Questions
Are the clues historically accurate?
Yes. The Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4, 1776 and Thomas Jefferson wrote most of it. It was signed in Philadelphia, where the Liberty Bell is on display today. If you change a clue, check the fact first.
Why is an eagle in the puzzle?
The bald eagle appears on the Great Seal of the United States, which Congress adopted in 1782, so it is a common symbol on Independence Day. The clue describes it as a large bird with a white head.
Can I change the words and clues?
Yes. Each of the 13 lines is a word, a colon and its clue. Edit any of them, and the crossword is rebuilt with new numbers.
How do I save it as a PDF?
Press Print and choose “Save as PDF” as the printer. The puzzle is page one and the answer key is page two.
How do I get a different layout?
Press “Make another”. The same words and clues are placed in a new arrangement, so each table can have its own puzzle.
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