Create a word search in Microsoft Word for the students. Center all of the words around one particular topic, such as the weather, electricity, creatures that live in the sea, food chains and webs or types of energy. If a final exam or state test is coming up, use vocabulary words in the search that cover a vast majority of the different areas that the students have studied throughout the year.
Let the students explore word search games online like the ones presented by Soft Schools. Some of the topics available on this website include bats, salamanders, potential energy, the Earth and tsunamis. These games come with a timer, so students can see how quickly they are able to finish the search. Have all of the students work on the same search and award a prize to the first to finish.
Have the students go on a scavenger hunt for different scientific terms. Hide science vocabulary around the classroom or in the school yard on index cards. Divide the students into teams and give them clues. For example, give them a clue that says, "Which falls faster? A tennis ball or a golf ball?" The students have to find the index card with the correct answer on it. Award a prize to the first team to finish and correctly explain the answer.
Have the students utilize a website such as wordsearchfun.com in order to create their own word search puzzles. Each student should create her own word search puzzle. Once all the students are finished, have them print out the puzzles or switch computers with someone else in the class. Have the students figure out one another's word searches in an allotted period of time.