Back to School cryptograms for kids
Getting ready for a new school year. Every sheet is generated and checked before it reaches the page, and each one prints with its answer key.
3 cryptograms on this page
Every level is below with its answer key. Print the one you want; the others stay off the paper.
Back to School cryptogram: Easy
Ages 6-8
Cryptogram - Answer Key
RULER · SCHEDULE · RECESS · LIBRARY · PENCIL · HOMEWORK · BUS · BACKPACK · GLUE · ERASER
Back to School cryptogram: Medium
Ages 8-10
Cryptogram - Answer Key
SCISSORS · BACKPACK · NOTEBOOK · FRIENDS · SCHEDULE · DESK · RECESS · LIBRARY · CRAYON · HOMEWORK
Back to School cryptogram: Hard
Ages 10-12
Cryptogram - Answer Key
RULER · LOCKER · NOTEBOOK · BACKPACK · SCHEDULE · BUS · DESK · LIBRARY · CRAYON · FRIENDS
The whole back to school pack
All 5 activities on this theme in one printable file: maze, word search, crossword, word scramble and bingo.
More back to school puzzles
The same words, four other ways to play.
More holidays cryptograms
About back to school cryptograms
Crack the secret code in these free printable back to school cryptograms for kids. Every letter has been swapped for a different one, and the same code is used for all back to school words on the page - so one starter letter is given to get you started. Decode each back to school word and write it on the blank lines below.
Cryptograms are a sneaky-fun way to build spelling, letter recognition, and logical reasoning. Kids use pattern-spotting and process of elimination to crack the code, and the back to school theme keeps them motivated to finish. Because the whole puzzle uses one consistent cipher, solving it rewards careful, methodical thinking - the same skill that helps with reading and math.
Start with the hint letter. Wherever that coded letter appears, write the real letter - the code is the same for every word. Use the letters you have decoded, plus the back to school theme, to guess the rest. Check each finished word against the answer key.
Common questions
How does a back to school cryptogram work?+
Each letter of the alphabet is swapped for a different letter, and the same code is used for every back to school word on the page. You crack the code - figuring out which letter stands for which - and write the decoded back to school words on the blank lines.
How many hints does the Medium back to school cryptogram give?+
The Medium level gives 1 starter letter. The hints show which real letter a coded letter stands for, to get you started.
What age is the Medium back to school cryptogram for?+
The Medium level suits ages 8-10. Cryptograms involve reading and spelling, so they work best for kids who can already read simple words; the hint count is what makes each level easier or harder.
Are these back to school cryptograms free to print?+
Yes, completely free with no signup. Print these back to school cryptogram puzzles as many times as you like for home or the classroom. An answer key is included on a separate page.