Where Dewey Find It?

Below is the activity which I created for teaching students, and library users in general, about the Dewey Decimal System.  It is difficult to teach users about numbers in an interesting way, however I believe that this activity (a sort of scavenger hunt) could be fun and educational at the same time!  I hope you enjoy.

Title:

Where Dewey Find It?

Rationale:

The following activities are simple ways to teach students how to find items in the library using the Dewey Decimal System. Students will have an opportunity to learn the system in a cooperative activity which makes use of visual cues. The detailed steps are listed below.

***Note: I did not create the library map as each library may vary. However, using the floor plan of your library, a Dewey map can be created quite easily with limited effort.

The Activity:

1.) Providing Background
- Discuss how the Dewey Decimal System works
oNumerically
oAlphabetically by author name

2.) Take students down to the library

3.) Arrange them in small groups

4.) Provide students with a bird’s eye view map of the library
-The map will have the following things labelled:
oShelf Locations
oSubject Headings for each shelf
oDewey Classification Numbers for each shelf

5.) Selecting Items
-Give students a list of nine subjects (representing the 9 different classes in the Dewey system)
-Each group must select an item from each subject area

6.) Sorting Items
-Once at their table, students have to sort the books based on their call number and author’s last name

Extension Activity:

1.) Steps 3 & 4 remain the same

2.) Provide Students with Five Items

3.) Shelving Items
-Using their maps and the experience gained in the previous activity, students must shelve the items in their correct location