New Year's Resolutions : A Secret Message Puzzle for English Learners

 New Year’s Resolutions: A Fun Activity for the Classroom

The start of a new year is a great time to talk about fresh starts and setting goals, and New Year’s resolutions make for a perfect conversation starter with your students. Resolutions are all about thinking ahead, trying new things, and figuring out ways to grow—and that’s something students can easily relate to.

To make this topic fun and interactive, we have created a “Secret Message” puzzle featuring four popular New Year’s resolutions. It’s a simple and engaging activity that will get your students thinking and talking about their own goals while solving a little mystery in the process.

How to Use This Puzzle in Class

Kick Things Off with a Conversation: Start by chatting with your students about New Year’s traditions. Have they ever made a resolution before? How did it go? Share a few examples of resolutions to get the ideas flowing—it could be something like “exercise more,” “read more books,” or “be kinder to others.” 

Solve the Puzzle: Hand out the Secret Words puzzle and let your students dive in. You can have them work on it alone, in pairs, or small groups. It’s a great way to build teamwork and critical thinking skills while keeping things light and fun.

Click the image to download a larger version.

Visit our TpT store, "Word Puzzle Corner" for more puzzles, including a free puzzle on New Year's resolutions.

Talk About the Resolutions: Once the puzzle is solved, use the answers to start a deeper conversation. Why do you think these resolutions are so common? How might they help someone feel happier or healthier?

Make It Personal: Encourage your students to come up with their own resolutions. They could write them down, draw them, or share them with the class—whatever feels most comfortable. Remind them that resolutions don’t need to be big or complicated; even small changes can make a difference.

A Few Extra Ideas

Tie It to Learning: If you teach writing, have students turn their resolutions into short stories or poems. In social studies, you could explore how different cultures celebrate New Year’s and what traditions they follow.

Focus on Positivity: Help students understand that resolutions are about trying, not perfection. This is a chance to encourage resilience and growth, which are important lessons in themselves.

Check In Later: Revisit your students’ resolutions later in the year to see how they’re doing. It’s a great way to show that progress matters more than getting everything “right.”

This activity can be a fun way to kick off the new year with your class. It gives students a chance to reflect, set goals, and start thinking about what’s important to them—all while having fun solving a puzzle. Here’s to a great year ahead!