Crossword Puzzle Pack for Use with The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin | Grades 5-8

The Westing Game crossword puzzles check vocabulary and story details from The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, written for Grades 5-8. It is a no-prep 48-page printable PDF with answer keys, sold on Teachers Pay Teachers.

At a glance

• Book: The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
• Grades: 5th–8th
• Resource type: Crossword puzzles
• Format: 48-page printable PDF
• Answer key: Included
• Teaching duration: 1 Week
• Standards: L.5.4, L.5.6, L.6.4, L.6.6, L.7.4, L.7.6, L.8.4, L.8.6 and more
• Price: $3.00

Challenge your students to think like detectives with this no-prep crossword puzzle pack for The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. Each clue pushes them beyond basic recall to make inferences, analyze character motives, and connect key details across the novel — just like the heirs themselves.

Save hours of planning while giving your students meaningful practice with textual evidence, vocabulary in context, and critical thinking, all in a format they’ll actually enjoy solving. These crosswords are purpose-built to deepen comprehension, not just check it.

What’s Included:

• 12 crossword puzzles — 10 chapter-unit crosswords covering all 30 chapters (Units 1–10) plus 2 whole-book review crosswords with 20 clues each for end-of-novel synthesis
• Rich clue variety — clues range from character identification, plot events, and key locations to inference-based questions, vocabulary-in-context, and thematic connections that require students to revisit the text
• Complete answer keys for every puzzle — fast grading, instant feedback, or student self-checking
• Well-illustrated design with clean, thematic artwork that captures the mystery without cluttering the grid
• Full-color and black & white versions included — print vibrant puzzles or ink-saving grayscale with zero extra prep
• 48 pages total — all puzzles, clue sets, answer keys, and both color/black-and-white sets in one organized PDF

Teachers love using these crosswords for chapter review, reading comprehension checks, test prep, partner work, sub plans, and engaging homework that goes beyond simple fill-in-the-blank. They work beautifully in literacy centers, for early finishers, or as a collaborative challenge after each chapter chunk.

While students decipher each clue, they’re building the exact skills targeted by Common Core standards: citing textual evidence (RL.5.1–8.1), determining word meaning and analyzing figurative language (RL.5.4–8.4), clarifying unknown vocabulary (L.5.4–8.4), and acquiring grade-appropriate academic language (L.5.6–8.6). It’s higher-order thinking disguised as a puzzle — and your students will beg for the next one.

Get this crossword pack on Teachers Pay Teachers today and watch your students connect clues with the cleverness of a true Westing heir!

Disclaimer:

This product is an independent supplemental resource designed for use with The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the author or publisher. All references to characters, settings, and events are used for educational purposes only to support reading comprehension and classroom instruction. This resource does not include the original text. Students must have their own copy of the book to complete the activities. All content in this resource is original and created by the seller.

Fonts Used:
Roboto by Christian Robertson | Open Sans by Steve Matteson | Playfair Display by Claus Eggers Sørensen | Lexend by Dr. Bonnie Shaver-Troup & Thomas Jockin | Poppins by Jonny Pinhorn | Montserrat by Julieta Ulanovsky
(All fonts are available via Google Fonts and licensed for commercial use under the SIL Open Font License.)

More The Westing Game resources

All The Westing Game activities & puzzles

Frequently asked questions

What grade level is this for?

It is written for Grades 5-8 (TpT lists 5th-8th).

How long is it?

It is a 48-page printable PDF. Suggested teaching time: 1 Week.

Are answer keys included?

Yes. Answer keys are included.

Do students need their own copy of The Westing Game?

Yes. This is an independent supplemental resource and does not include the text of The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, so students need their own copy.

How do I get this resource?

It is sold on Teachers Pay Teachers ($3.00) as a PDF download. Use the Buy on TpT button on this page.