Today's Strands clue is "It's elementary!". Use the hints below to find the theme words and the spangram.
Happy puzzling! Take your time and let the grid guide you toward the hidden connections.
Theme nudge: What to look for
Look for familiar classroom essentials and things you'd find during a typical lesson.
Hint 1: How many words to find
There are 6 theme words plus one spangram.
Hint 2: The spangram
The spangram has 12 letters, starts with B, and runs from one side of the board to the other.
Hint 3: Theme word lengths and first letters
- 5 letters, starts with C
- 4 letters, starts with D
- 5 letters, starts with E
- 5 letters, starts with G
- 7 letters, starts with M
- 10 letters, starts with W
Show the spangram
BACKTOSCHOOL
Show all theme words
CUBBY, DESK, EASEL, GLOBE, MARKERS, WHITEBOARD
About this puzzle
- Made by Christina Iverson
- Edited by Tracy Bennett
Strands deep dive
More about today's puzzle. Everything in this section can include the answer.
The solved board
Gold squares are the spangram, green squares are theme words.
What the theme words mean
- CUBBY: A cell in a shelf for storing items, particularly in a school.
- DESK: A table, frame, or case, in past centuries usually with a sloping top but now usually with a flat top, for the use of...
- EASEL: An upright frame, typically on three legs, for displaying or supporting something, such as an artist's canvas.
- GLOBE: The planet Earth.
- MARKERS: Someone or something that creates marks, particularly
- WHITEBOARD: A writing board finished with a hard white material, which can be written upon using special non-permanent markers an...
Play today's Strands at The New York Times
More hints for September 8, 2026
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