Shaped Puzzles Just Got a Big Upgrade

Shaped puzzles have had a big upgrade in both Word Search Creator and Maze Creator.

This is more than a collection of new designs. Shapes now have proper outlines and retain much more of their detail, so the finished puzzles have clearer and more recognizable silhouettes. A bear looks like a bear, a rabbit keeps the shape of its ears and a Christmas tree has clearly defined branches.

I have also added ready made shapes for animals, holidays and other classroom themes. Instead of starting every shaped puzzle from scratch, you can pick one and get straight to creating your worksheet.

New Word Search Creator shapes

Word Search Creator now fits the letter grid to a much clearer outline of the chosen shape while leaving the area around it empty. Curves, points and other defining features are easier to recognize, but the result is still a proper word search that works in the usual way.

The new shapes include a bear and rabbit.

A word search shaped like a bear.

A rabbit shape for an animal, spring or Easter theme.

The words still run through the available letter cells and can be highlighted as usual. The improved outline makes the shape itself a stronger part of the worksheet theme.

If you want to use your own silhouette instead, custom layouts are still available too. The custom word search shapes guide explains how to turn a black and white image into a reusable layout.

New Maze Creator shapes

Maze Creator uses the upgraded outlines too. Maze walls now follow the shape more closely, keeping details such as the pumpkin stem, the duck profile and the tiers of the Christmas tree. The generated route can also travel through numbered waypoints on its way from the green start to the red finish.

New ready made layouts include a pumpkin, duck and Christmas tree.

The pumpkin maze is ready for autumn and Halloween resources.

A maze shaped like a duck for animal and spring themes.

The Christmas tree shape makes a quick seasonal maze.

These are useful when you want the puzzle itself to carry the theme. Add your own title, instructions and clipart around the exported puzzle to turn it into a finished classroom resource.

One theme, two kinds of puzzle

The shape collections also make it easier to build matching activities. You could create a rabbit word search and an animal maze for spring, or combine a seasonal word search with the pumpkin or Christmas tree maze. That gives you two different puzzle types with a consistent theme.

Open Word Search Creator or Maze Creator to try the new shapes.