Library Game
One might think that getting kids interested in the Dewey Decimal System would be problematic. I mean, really. Most adults would glaze over if I started talking with them about the number system for finding books in the library. And, frankly, when I started library school I was a little worried that I would have to memorize the call numbers. (We barely covered the Dewey Decimal System, and there was never a test on it!)
Anyway, I was surprised that my students were pretty easily engaged during my lessons about nonfiction. So much so, that we filled extra time on many days with pop quizzes about the classifications and call numbers. On the fly, I would come up with treasure hunts so they could compete to find books. That is why I decided to design a game around call numbers. It’s called “What’s my number?” and it is a series of riddles that are printed on bookmarks.
The game can be customized to fit your needs. You can use it to fill a moment or two before the teacher arrives, or you can embed it into a larger lesson. Here are my suggestions for using the “What’s my number?” bookmarks.
1) Print enough bookmarks for the whole class, but try not to duplicate too much so the kids are not stumbling over one another to get to the books.
2) Have students work alone, in pairs, or in small groups. This will depend on the age of the students and how much they already know about the Dewey Decimal System. Have them read the clues on the bookmark, then write in the call number.
3) Provide lots of signage in the library directing students to books by decimal number. You could also give handouts for each student or each table of students, which list the classifications and subsequent call numbers.
4) Decide whether you want students to use only their memories, signage in the library, or handouts. You could also allow them to use your computerized cataloging system, if you have a computer lab in your library media center.
5) Choose whether you want students to write in one of the ten main classes, the Hundred Division, or the Thousand section. (Example: 300, 340, or 345 respectively) Instruct the students accordingly. Visit the OCLC website for a detailed list of the classifications. http://www.oclc.org/dewey/resources/summaries.en.html
6) Decide whether you want students to go to the shelf and find a book in that classification. If so, have them write the call number on the bookmark. Then have them go to the shelf and find a book with that call number labeled on it. Alternatively, you could just have them find a title in your online catalog. In that case, have them write the title on the back of the bookmark.
7) Allow students to earn something for bringing you the correct call number and/or a book from the correct classification. It could be as simple as a star on a chart that is posted in the library. You could reward them with free time, or a trip to the treasure box. Be creative.
8) Tell them that this is not a race. I made the mistake as a new media specialist of having students see who could bring me the right book first. This caused them to run, and some of them got very frustrated when they could not complete the task as quickly as others. Make success achievable for everyone!
9) Laminate the kids' copies of the bookmarks so that you can use them again and again. Put a master copy of each printable template in a 3-ring binder. You can refer to it for the answers, as well.
10) Remember, you can customize this game to fit your needs. Leave a comment if you have other ways to make this work in a media center, classroom, public library, or at home.
Print out as many or as few of the bookmarks as you think you might use. Come back again and again for more numbers. When you find that your students love the game, you may decide to play all year long! Soon enough, they will be able to find materials in the library all by themselves.
I will continue to add to the bookmarks, and would love for you to make suggestions to make it even better.
I hope this helps you. Have fun!
Tina
Students love riddles! Learn the Dewey Decimal System while conducting research on topics related to curriculum. This library game includes 100 elementary topics for research with curriculum-related inquiry questions.
Students will:
practice finding nonfiction books in the library by looking up the Dewey Decimal System call number.
research the topic and find answers to the questions on the bookmark.
You are purchasing a PDF file.
Included:
100 sheets of bookmarks, each with a different topic, covering a variety of classifications from 000s to 900s.
Standards-based questions for research on each bookmark.
Answer key.
Library Game instructions:
1. Print your bookmark.
2. Read the topic clue and the questions for research.
3. Find the Dewey Decimal classification for a book on the topic. You can search a library catalog, look at a list of Dewey Decimal classifications, or ask a librarian.
4. Write the Dewey Decimal call number on the bookmark.
5. Go to the library and find a book on the topic. Use LIBRARY SIGNS and DEWEY DECIMAL POCKET GUIDE to help you.
6. Answer the research questions.
I first created this library game a decade ago when I was a media specialist for grades K-5. It was easy to pull out a game card (bookmark) whenever I needed something for students to do. You can also use the bookmarks if you are a classroom teacher to scaffold your Language Arts curriculum, and to help students get started on research projects in elementary.
Classifications & topics with bookmarks in this game:
004 Computers
006 Artificial Intelligence
031 Almanac
080 Famous Quotes
155 Diversity
200 Celebrating all religions
202 Gods and Godesses
307 Communities
320 Branches of US Government
330 Great Depression
340 Rules and laws
342 Bill of Rights
342 Constitution
363 Pollution
388 Transportation
398 Folktales
403 Encyclopedia
433 German Dictionary
443 French Dictionary
453 Italian Dictionary
463 Spanish Dicitonary
508 Seasons
520 Universe
523 Sun
525 Earth
531 Gravity
537 Electricity
538 Magnets
551 Weather
551 Rivers
551 Oceans
551 Erosion
551 Thunderstorms
552 Rocks
560 Fossils
567 Dinosaurs
579 Germs
581 Seeds
582 Trees
583 Sunflowers
595 Honeybee
597 Snakes
597 Turtles
598 Owls
599 Lions
600 Technology
612 Smell
616 Lyme Disease
617 Dentists
620 Engineering
624 Bridges
629 Tractor
633 Crops
636 Farm animals
636 Hamsters
636 Chickens
670 Manufacturing
708 Art museums
720 Architecture
741 Drawing
770 Photography
780 Music
784 Star Spangled Banner, our national anthem
787 Guitar
792 Dance
794 Chess
796 Olympic games
797 Swimming
799 Archery
808 Authorship
811 Poetry
812 Plays
817 Jokes
929 US Flag
940 Europe
942 England
947 Russia
950 Asia
951 China
960 Africa
970 North America
971 Canada
972 Mexico
973 American Revolution
973 Battle of Gettysburg
973 Boston Tea Party
973 Civil War
973 Colonies
973 Declaration of Independence
973 Dust Bowl
973 Louisiana Purchase
974 Liberty Bell
975 White House
978 Mount Rushmore
978 Oregon Trail
979 Gold Rush
980 South America
981 Brazil
994 Australia and Oceania
998 Antarctica
