How to use this space word search
This list includes all eight planets of our solar system (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) along with words for what surrounds them: moons, comets, asteroids, meteors and the Milky Way, the galaxy we live in. Pluto is not on the list because astronomers have classed it as a dwarf planet since 2006; add it back if your unit covers dwarf planets. Constellation is the longest word, so the grid starts at 15×15.
- Edit the list for your unit: only planets for younger grades, or add terms like light-year and solar wind for older ones.
- Choose a difficulty. Hard, with backwards words, is a good fit for grade 5 and up.
- Print the puzzle and the answer key, or save a PDF.
Teacher tips
- Ask students to put the eight planets they found in order from the sun.
- Use it as a quiet activity after a planetarium visit or a rocket launch video.
- Point out that Milky Way runs together in the grid as MILKYWAY.
- For a vocabulary review, the bingo button makes cards from the same words.