Library Lessons Carlene Morton

Library Lessons Carlene Morton

Carlene Morton, 2007 All rights reserved. The purchase of this book entitles the individual librarian or teacher to reproduce copies for use in the library or classroom. The reproduction of any part for an entire school system or for commercial use is strictly prohibited. No form of this work may be reproduced or transmitted or recorded without written permission from the publisher. Published by UpstartBooks W5527 State Road 106 P.O. Box 800 Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin 53538-0800 1-800-448-4887

Author s Note As a school library media specialist (SLMS), I often used centers to reinforce information skills. After basic instruction on a reference source, centers allowed the students to practice using the tool. They also enjoyed the diversity and the chance for movement. I haven t forgotten the importance of technology in the school library media center. Some of the same centers that Alpha Betti experienced are provided, along with some activities that work better with large groups. Hopefully, all of your students will become Masters of ABC Order. Carlene Morton www.carlenemorton.com Alpha Betti Library Lessons 2007, Carlene Morton (UpstartBooks)

Learning Centers The success of centers in the school library media center depends upon preparation. Modify these suggestions to meet your needs. The centers are designed for no more than a class of 28 students, preferably third to fifth graders. Students should have prior knowledge of dictionaries, encyclopedias, and the fiction section before tackling the activities. Center Directions Begin the center activities by giving the class oral instructions for each center. You should also post printed instructions at each center. Divide the class into small groups with no more than four students per group. Each group will be assigned to begin at a different center. After 5 10 minutes signal the students to move to the next numbered station reminding them to leave the center as they found it. If the class does not complete the center rotation during the initial visit, a follow-up session may be necessary. You might want to collaborate with the classroom teacher and allow small groups or individuals to return to the media center to complete the centers. Some of the centers may also be completed in the classroom. Prepare the Centers At each center, provide a worksheet for each student. Center 1: Dictionary Dishevel Code Set a pen and a dictionary at the center. Have the students find three synonyms for the word dishevel. Answers: 1. tousle; 2. rumple; 3. unsettle Center 2: Dictionary Create a Code Set a dictionary at the center. Have students use the dictionaries to find definitions for the words provided. Center 3: Encyclopedia Ransom Note Set up the center near the encyclopedias. Fill in the name of the country options are China, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, and Switzerland. Have students use the encyclopedia to determine the correct continent. Center 4: Fiction Section Safari Set up the center near the fiction section. Have students use the fiction section to find books by the listed authors. Center 5: Book Cart The Book Bandit Fill the top shelf of a book cart with various fiction books. Have students put the books in ABC order by the author s last name. Center 6: Laundry Basket Be a Neat Freak Fill a laundry basket with several cans of vegetables, boots, sandals, cleats, clogs, sneakers, several board games, shirt, pants, dress, sweater, skirt, etc. Set it on a table. Have students put like items together, then sort them in ABC order. Center 7: Art Activity Badge Art Set up an art center. Have students design a Super ABC Hero Badge. 4 Alpha Betti Library Lessons 2007, Carlene Morton (UpstartBooks)

Make Center Signs Mark a piece of poster board into thirds. Hold a yardstick against one of the marked lines. Pull an X-acto knife or the point of a pair of scissors down the line. Do not cut through the poster board. Score the second line. Fold along the scored lines until you have a three-sided stand. Tape the two ends of the poster board together. Make seven of these, one for each center. (They may be used later for other display purposes.) Write numbers from one to seven on separate sheets of paper and tape to the display stands. Make copies of the worksheets and tape to the stands. Set the stands atop a shelf or a table for good visibility. Additional Notes Incorporate computers into the activities provided. An additional center might be your online library catalog. Make up five questions for the children to answer using the catalog. An online dictionary or encyclopedia may be substituted for the print version. Remember that students will be using skills other than alphabetizing if they search for information via online sources. A drawing software program works well with the art activity. To make more professionallooking seasonal and superhero dictionaries (page 12), computers may be used to complete the pages. However, time constraints need to be considered in the center rotation design. 1 Alpha Betti Library Lessons 2007, Carlene Morton (UpstartBooks) 5

Center 1: Dictionary Dishevel Code Dishevel: to become disarranged and untidy You are a spy. Crack the code by finding three synonyms for dishevel. Use the code provided below. Find the number in the table. Write the corresponding letter on the line provided. Use the special pen provided. B E C O M E D I S A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R R A N G E D A N D 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 U N T I D Y L P 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 23 4 21 9 27 2 2 11 21 5 28 27 6 3 21 14 9 6 23 23 27 2 6 Alpha Betti Library Lessons 2007, Carlene Morton (UpstartBooks)

Center 2: Dictionary Create a Code Look up the definitions of the following words in the dictionary: disarray slovenly Write a definition for each word using the code provided below. A B C D E F G H I J 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 K L M N O P Q R S T 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 U V W X Y Z L P 21 22 23 24 25 26 Alpha Betti Library Lessons 2007, Carlene Morton (UpstartBooks) 7

Center 3: Encyclopedia Ransom Note Locate the country in the correct volume of the encyclopedia. Find the continent the country is on and write it in the blank. I have booknapped the librarian s favorite book. I am holding it in the country of. Find the continent where I am located and I will release the book. (Name of Country) is on the continent of 8 Alpha Betti Library Lessons 2007, Carlene Morton (UpstartBooks)

Center 4: Fiction Section Safari You are on a safari. You must capture one book by each of the authors listed. Go to the fiction section, find one book written by each author, and bring each book back to the center. Beverly Cleary Andrew Clements Roald Dahl Lois Lowry E. B. White Laura lngalls Wilder Alpha Betti Library Lessons 2007, Carlene Morton (UpstartBooks) 9

Center 5: Book Cart The Book Bandit The Book Bandit made a mess of the book cart. The library media specialist had the books on this cart in order. They were ready to shelve. Help the LMS by putting these fiction books in ABC order by the author s last name. Center 6: Laundry Basket Be a Neat Freak Remove everything from the basket. Put like items together. Then put the like items in ABC order from left to right. You should have four groups of items in ABC order. 10 Alpha Betti Library Lessons 2007, Carlene Morton (UpstartBooks)

Center 7: Art Activity Badge Art Design a Super ABC Hero Badge. Alpha Betti Library Lessons 2007, Carlene Morton (UpstartBooks) 11

Additional Activities Dictionary Activities Make Seasonal Dictionaries 1. Brainstorm words that deal with Halloween. Assign students different Halloween words that begin with each letter of the alphabet for A Very Scary Dictionary. Adapt this idea for A Very Merry Dictionary centered on Christmas, A Dictionary of Good Food for Thanksgiving, or A Dictionary of Spring Things. 2. Have each student look up his or her word in the dictionary and write the definition on a sheet of paper. 3. Students should illustrate their words. 4. When the class is finished, put the pages in alphabetical order for A Very Scary Dictionary complete with a cover and a title page. The author will be The Class of (Teacher s Name). The school s name will be the publisher and the date of completion will be the copyright date. Make a Superhero Dictionary A Z 1. Assign each child a letter of the alphabet. 2. Have each student create a superhero with a name that begins with that letter. Students should describe their superhero s powers and illustrate the heroes. 3. Assemble the dictionary, bind it, and make it available for circulation. Encyclopedia Activity Birthday Cards for Famous People 1. Show the students how to find birth and death dates of famous people in the encyclopedia. Have each student make birthday cards for a famous person who is still alive. 2. Distribute construction paper and show them how to fold the paper in half with the fold to their left. 3. If you are using a print encyclopedia, locate a famous living person in each volume. Make a copy of the list of famous living people. Cut out the names, fold, and place the names in a basket. Let each student pick a name. 4. Have the students write Happy Birthday and the famous person s name on the front of the card. 5. Students should locate the name in the appropriate volume and find the birthdate and why the person is famous. On the inside of the card they should write: Your birthday is. You are famous because. 6. Students can illustrate the cards with a birthday theme. 7. Put the cards on display when completed. lnteractive Activities Silent Book Line Up 1. This is a good activity to end a class session. Distribute sticky notes, one for each child. Have students pretend they have written a picture book. Older children may pretend they have written fiction books. Their spine labels will have an F or Fic and the first three letters of their last names. 12 Alpha Betti Library Lessons 2007, Carlene Morton (UpstartBooks)

2. Students should make a spine label for their book on the sticky note. They should write an E on the card with the first three letters of their last name underneath the E. Have students put the sticky notes on their spines. 3. Have the class line up alphabetically as they are called. They must be silent while getting in line. ABC Game Off to the Library 1. Have the children sit in a circle in the Fiction or E section so that they may rise to read the last names of some of the authors. 2. The game begins, I went to the library and in my book bag I had a book written by Adler. The person to the left repeats, I went to the library and in my book bag I had a book written by Adler and a book by (an author s name that begins with the letter B), etc. 3. After the letter Z, say, The librarian was glad that I returned all of my books on time. Interactive Bulletin Board or Center: Alpha Betti Eyes the Cluttered Closet Attach paper CD sleeves with windows five across and three down onto the board. Cut 15 rectangles (3" x 7") from poster board or card stock. Photocopy the pictures of the games, books, and clothes from pages 14 and 15. Cut them out, glue to the rectangles, and laminate. Place the cards in a pocket at the bottom of the board. See sample below. PQRSTUVWXYZ Games Clothes Books ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Help Alpha Betti organize her closet. Put the games in ABC order on the top shelf. On the second shelf put the clothes in ABC order. Put the books in ABC order by title on the bottom shelf. Alpha Betti Library Lessons 2007, Carlene Morton (UpstartBooks) 13

The Jacket Dress Book Chess A Week in the Woods Game Book BINGO Game Skirt The Janitor s Boy Sweater Book 14 Alpha Betti Library Lessons 2007, Carlene Morton (UpstartBooks)

Memory Trivia Junior Game Game Pants Shirt The Landry News Frindle Book Book Checkers Game Alpha Betti Library Lessons 2007, Carlene Morton (UpstartBooks) 15

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