Christmas Word Scramble

All three sheets use the same scrambles, so a mixed group can play together: children work from the word bank, adults take the sheet without it, and the large print sheet gives the first twelve words, from REINDEER to GIFTS, in big letters with a word bank of their own. The longer words, like NUTCRACKER and GINGERBREAD, are on the regular sheets only.

• Scramble relay. Split the room into two teams and read one scramble at a time. The first team to shout the word scores a point; the answer key keeps the referee honest.
• Cookie exchange or office party. Leave a stack of the no-word-bank sheets on the table with a pencil. Whoever finishes first picks the first cookie.
• Last week before winter break. The word bank version is a calm task for the classroom, and writing GINGERBREAD or POINSETTIA out in full is good spelling practice.
• Assisted living and senior centers. Hand out the large print sheet with a cup of cocoa, or write one scramble on a whiteboard and let the room call out guesses. A word like STOCKING or CHIMNEY often brings a Christmas memory with it.

Many Christmas words hide a double letter: two L’s in HOLLY, two G’s in EGGNOG, two O’s in COOKIES. Spot the pair first and the rest falls into place. Endings help too: -ING in STOCKING and CAROLING, -MAN in SNOWMAN, -CAKE in FRUITCAKE. When a word will not come, picture the room on Christmas Eve, from the fireplace to the tree, and say the things you see out loud. On screen, “Give me a letter” fills in one more letter of the word you are working on.