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Sight word word search
10-word Pre-Primer Sight Words word search, easy (across and down), 9×9 grid · 1 page + answer key
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This sight word word search uses the Dolch pre-primer list, the 40 most basic words a beginning reader meets (the, and, see, look, can, play, come, said and so on). Each puzzle hides 10 of them in a 9 × 9 grid of big lowercase letters, going only across and down, because lowercase is what kids see in books.
Sight words are hard to sound out, so kids learn them by seeing them again and again; a word search adds a few more looks in a playful way. Have your child read each word aloud before and after finding it. When the pre-primer words are easy, switch the theme to the Dolch primer, first grade, second grade or third grade lists. One-letter words like a and I are left out because they can't be hidden.
Tips for using it
- Read the word list together first, then have your child point to each word as they find it.
- Keep found words on index cards and review them with a quick flash-card round.
- Print the same list twice: once as a word search, once with New puzzle, so the words repeat in new places.
Variations
All printable word search for kidsQuestions
What are the Dolch sight words?
A list of 220 common service words (plus 95 nouns) compiled by educator Edward William Dolch and first published in 1936, based on the words that appeared most often in children's books. They're grouped into pre-primer, primer, first, second and third grade lists.
Why do sight word searches use lowercase letters?
Most of the words kids read in books are lowercase, so practicing with lowercase builds the recognition they need. You can switch to ABC for uppercase.
Can I use my child's own sight word list?
Yes. Choose My own words and type their list, one word per line. Two-letter words like is, it and up work fine.