How to Use the "Word Puzzles" Group of the Time Savers Add-in for PowerPoint

Please note: Some changes may have been made to the Time Savers Add-in for PowerPoint since the making of this video.

The “Word Puzzles” group is part of the “TS Create” tab (previously called “Time Savers 2”) of the Time Savers Add-in for PowerPoint.

The tools in this part of the Time Savers Add-in make it possible for you to:

Quickly and easily create crossword puzzles and wordsearches (also number searches and math searches).

Settings:

Shadow
- Add a shadow to the crossword puzzle.
- Only applies when creating crossword puzzles.

Fillable
- Add a fillable table on top of the crossword puzzle.
- Only applies when creating crossword puzzles.

Image
- Insert the word puzzle as an image.

Size:

Fill in the number of rows and columns you wish your word puzzle to have.
When generating your puzzle, you may be prompted to change the grid size. You can try again with the same grid size a few more times if you wish. It is possible that the puzzle will fit on the second or third attempt. If it is still not fitting, you should change the grid size slightly before trying again.
When you are creating a crossword puzzle, the size you fill in here is the maximum size. Excess rows or columns that are empty will be deleted once the puzzle has been created and the puzzle will be resized and centered on the page.

Crossword puzzle:

Once you have filled in the grid size and the number of words you wish to use in your crossword puzzle, click the ‘Crossword’ button.

A new slide will be created with a table for you to fill in the words and clues you wish to use in your crossword puzzle. If you wish to use a particular font for your activity, you can change the text in this table to your desired font and that font will be used when creating the activity.
There will also be a shape on the slide that you can use to indicate the size and position you want for your crossword puzzle.
- If you move it and resize it, the crossword puzzle will be sized and positioned so that it best fits into this shape.
- If no changes are made to this shape, the crossword puzzle will be given a default size and position.

Once you have filled in the clues and words, click the ‘Crossword’ button again.

The crossword puzzle will be generated on a second new slide.
The completed crossword puzzle (solutions) will be generated on a third new slide.
If there is a problem fitting the crossword puzzle on the size grid of you choice, a message will appear, prompting you to change the grid size. You can try again with the same grid size if you would like and are sure that it should all fit. Otherwise, you can simply change the grid size and then try again.

Wordsearch:

Case

ABC – all letters in the wordsearch grid will be uppercase
abc – all letters in the wordsearch grid will be lowercase
Mixed – letters in the wordsearch grid will be a mixture of uppercase and lowercase, based on the case of the letters in the words you add to the table when prompted. Extra letters will randomly be made either uppercase or lowercase.
Numbers – Create a number search. The numbers you fill in will be placed in a grid, with each digit in its own block. All extra spaces will be filled with numbers 0-9.
Math – Create a math search. The math statements you fill in will be placed in a grid, with each number in its own block and each operation or equal sign in its own block. All extra spaces will be filled with numbers based on the number range used in your math statements.

Directions

All directions are selected by default. If you wish to create a wordsearch using only some of the directions, deselect the directions you do not wish to use.

Create

Once you have filled in the grid size and the number of words you wish to use in your wordsearch puzzle and selected your case and direction options, click the ‘Wordsearch’ button.

A new slide will be created with a table for you to fill in the words (or numbers or math statements) you wish to use in your wordsearch.
You can also fill in clues for the students to be given in place of the word list if you wish (Note: this is optional).
- You can use ‘fill in the blank’ type clues if you wish. Simply indicate the blanks with underscores of your desired length. (_)
- In order to use the for the wordsearch creator to fill in the blanks properly for you in the answer key, all of your clues need to have underscores indicating that they have blanks needing to be filled in.
If you wish to use a particular font for your activity, you can change the text in this table to your desired font and that font will be used when creating the activity.
There will also be a shape on the slide that you can use to indicate the size and position you want for your wordsearch.
- If you move it and resize it, the wordsearch will be sized and positioned so that it best fits into this shape.
- If no changes are made to this shape, the wordsearch will be given a default size and position.

Once you have filled in the words, numbers or math statements, click the ‘Wordsearch’ button again.

When creating a wordsearch, you will be given the option to add a hidden message that can be discovered once all the words have been found. You will be told how many spaces are available for you to use for the hidden message. If you do not wish to add a hidden message, simply leave the input field blank and the extra spaces will be filled with random letters.
The wordsearch will be generated on a second new slide.
The completed wordsearch puzzle (solutions) will be generated on a third new slide.
If there is a problem fitting the wordsearch puzzle on the size grid of you choice, a message will appear, prompting you to change the grid size. You can try again with the same grid size if you would like and are sure that it should all fit. Otherwise, you can simply change the grid size and then try again.