Crossword Pack for Use with Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express by McDonald

These Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express crossword puzzles check vocabulary and story details from Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express by Megan McDonald, written for Grades 2-4. It is a no-prep 44-page printable PDF with answer keys, sold on Teachers Pay Teachers.

At a glance

• Book: Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express by Megan McDonald
• Grades: 2nd–4th
• Resource type: Crossword puzzles
• Format: 44-page printable PDF
• Answer key: Included
• Teaching duration: 1 Week
• Standards: L.2.4, L.2.6, L.3.4, L.3.6, L.4.4, L.4.6, RL.2.1, RL.2.4 and more
• Price: $3.00

Deepen comprehension and build vocabulary with this no-prep crossword puzzle pack designed for use with Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express by Megan McDonald. Each puzzle goes beyond basic recall, challenging your students to think critically, make inferences, and truly engage with the humor and heart of this guinea pig road-trip adventure.

You already know how much kids love word searches — crosswords take that engagement one step further by asking them to recall and apply vocabulary, not just spot it. And with built-in scaffolded difficulty in every puzzle, you can meet every learner right where they are without any extra prep.

What’s Included:

• 9 chapter-specific crossword puzzles — one for each chapter, with clues drawn directly from the text
• 2 cumulative whole-book review crosswords — perfect for end-of-unit assessment or celebration
• 15 unique clues per puzzle covering character names, guinea pig facts, Virginia geography, humorous plot events, and light inference
• Scaffolded difficulty in every puzzle: 5 easy clues, 7 medium clues, and 3 challenging clues to support the full grade 2–4 band
• Complete answer keys for all 11 crosswords — quick grading and self-checking ready to go
• Genre-matched clues that capture the warmth, humor, and adventure of the story — students practice inference while they work
• Well-illustrated with an adorable guinea pig road-trip theme and available in both full-color and ink-saving black & white versions
• Approximately 44 pages of classroom-ready content

These crosswords slide perfectly into your existing novel study routine. Use them for comprehension checks, chapter reviews, guided reading groups, test prep, homework, or stress-free sub plans. They also make a wonderful, low-pressure way to revisit the whole story before moving on.

Aligned to Common Core ELA Standards (RL.2-4.1, RL.2-4.4, L.2-4.4, L.2-4.6) covering Reading: Literature and Language for grades 2–4.

Get this resource on Teachers Pay Teachers today and watch your students puzzle their way to deeper understanding — squeals of delight included!

Disclaimer: This product is an independent supplemental resource designed for use with Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express by Megan McDonald. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the author or publisher. Students must have their own copy of the book to complete the activities. All content is original.

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 Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express resources

All Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express activities & puzzles

Frequently asked questions

What grade level is this for?

It is written for Grades 2-4 (TpT lists 2nd-4th).

How long is it?

It is a 44-page printable PDF. Suggested teaching time: 1 Week.

Are answer keys included?

Yes. Answer keys are included.

Do students need their own copy of Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express?

Yes. This is an independent supplemental resource and does not include the text of Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express by Megan McDonald, 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.