Large Print Earth Day Word Search

A gentle, outdoorsy puzzle for the spring: the earth and the whole planet, trees and flowers, the ocean and fresh water, birds at the feeder and a sunny garden. The big letters make it easy to share at a garden club, a senior center morning or a family table, and it often leads to stories about victory gardens, saving string and the glass jars every kitchen used to keep.

This edition hides the first 12 of the theme’s 20 words in an 11×11 grid, never backwards. How our large print puzzles work.

All 20 words in this theme: Earth, Planet, Recycle, Trees, Ocean, Nature, Water, Flowers, Garden, Birds, Sunshine, Clean Up, Compost, Reuse, Reduce, Wildlife, Forest, Habitat, Solar, April.

• The first Earth Day, on April 22, 1970, brought about 20 million Americans out for rallies, teach-ins and cleanups.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency opened in December 1970, the same year as the first Earth Day.
• Earth Day went worldwide in 1990, with events in 141 countries.

• Did your family grow its own vegetables or keep a compost pile?
• What did people save and use again when you were young: jars, flour sacks, wrapping paper?
• Is there a park, lake or stretch of woods you have loved for many years?
• Which birds come to your window or feeder?
• Have you ever planted a tree? Where is it now?

Activity tip: Bring a few seed packets or a small potted plant to the table. When TREES or FLOWERS is found, invite someone to name a favorite tree or flower from a yard they remember.