Zola's Word Hunts
Free word searches for early readers
Every Zola story comes with a small word hunt: five words from the story, hidden in an eight-by-eight grid. The words only run across and down — never backwards, never diagonally — so they suit children who are just starting to read, about ages 5 to 7.
Play on the screen, or open a story and press Print the story + word hunt for a ready-to-print activity sheet. Teachers, OTs and SLPs: print as many as you like.
Zola went trick-or-treating with a plan
ZOLA · CANDY · BUCKET · SIGNAL · STREET
Zola designed a costume that didn't pinch
ZOLA · CAPE · HOOD · RADIO · SPACE
Zola found a leaf that couldn't make up its mind
ZOLA · LEAF · RED · YELLOW · PARK
Zola heard the geese before anyone saw them
ZOLA · GEESE · HONK · SOUTH · BAND
Zola led the way out of the corn maze
ZOLA · MAZE · CORN · WAGON · PUMPKIN
Zola watched the fireworks from the car
ZOLA · CAR · BLANKET · HILL · TRUNK
Zola noticed the new kid before anyone else did
ZOLA · SCHOOL · BREAK · WALL · FRIEND
Zola solved the sock problem
ZOLA · SOCK · SEAM · TOES · INSIDE
Zola taught someone else the flower-and-candle breath
ZOLA · TAUGHT · FLOWER · CANDLE · BREATH
Zola spotted the moon in the middle of the afternoon
ZOLA · MOON · SPOTTED · MIDDLE · CLOCK
Zola stayed for the whole parade
ZOLA · PARADE · DRUMS · FLOATS · BAND
Zola made a paper bird for someone having a hard day
ZOLA · PAPER · BIRD · DESK · QUIET
Zola found the first firefly of the summer
ZOLA · FIREFLY · HEDGE · GRASS · SUMMER
Zola picked the quiet table at a birthday party
ZOLA · QUIET · TABLE · PARTY · PICKED
Zola named the scariest sound in the hotel
SOUND · ZOLA · NAMED · HOTEL · CLUNK
Zola tried one bite of something orange
ZOLA · ORANGE · TRIED · BITE · BRAVE