Words for things we do
Action words — verbs — are an important early step in learning to talk and read, and this word search gathers them. You'll be finding the busy ones, from RUN, JUMP and HOP to SWIM, CLIMB and DANCE.
Each puzzle pulls a fresh selection from the list, so the moves change every time you play — gentle on Easy, and a livelier round once the diagonals and backwards words appear on Hard.
All the things you can do
The grid is full of busy doing-words. There are ways to get around — RUN, JUMP, HOP, WALK, SKIP, SWIM, CLIMB, CRAWL and DANCE — and things you do with your hands — CLAP, THROW, CATCH, KICK, DRAW and WAVE. There are quieter ones too, like SIT, STAND, READ, SING and PLAY. Every single one is something a child can actually go and do.
The words that make sentences move
Action words have a proper grown-up name — verbs — and they're one of the most important kinds of word there is, because almost every sentence needs one to make sense. 'The dog ___' isn't a sentence until you add a verb like RUNS, JUMPS or BARKS. Learning a good bank of action words early helps children build longer, clearer sentences and tell better stories about what's happening.
The best thing about this topic is that you can act it out, which is exactly how young children learn best — by moving. Find WALK in the grid, then walk on the spot; find JUMP, then jump; find WAVE, then wave. Linking the written word to the real movement helps it stick far better than just reading it, and it gets the wiggles out at the same time. That mix of reading, talking and moving is why action words are such a lively, brilliant early-years topic.
Great for an early-years topic
You can act each word out as you find it — Easy mode uses a small grid with no diagonals or reverse words. Play online, print a PDF pack, or use Make Your Own to build a grid from your own action words.
Frequently asked questions
Which action words are in the word search?
Lots of things we do — run, jump, hop, walk, sing and clap, plus swim, skip, dance, climb, throw, catch and more. Each puzzle uses a fresh selection.
Which action words can you find?
Busy verbs like RUN, JUMP, HOP and WALK, plus SWIM, SKIP, CLIMB, DANCE, THROW, CATCH and KICK.
Is it good for an early-years topic?
Perfectly — and you can act each one out as you find it. Easy mode uses a small grid with no diagonals or reverse words.