Ok, so as a Teacher Librarian, it’s always going to be necessary at some point in the curriculum to teach The Dewey Decimal System ( I can hear my students groaning now).
But I promise, it doesn’t have to be boring! Try some of these ideas to keep your lessons fun, fresh and engaging. Don’t forget to read all the way to the bottom for a fun freebie!
Dewey Decimal System Read Alouds
These Dewey Decimal themed picture books are some of my favorites. They’re perfect to introduce the Dewey Decimal concept in a fun and engaging format.
Do You Know Dewey? by Brian P. Cleary
An introductory look at the Dewey Decimal System. After an explanation about the purpose of the Dewey Decimal System, each double spread is dedicated to one of the Dewey Decimal main categories (e.g 000, 100, 200 and so on). It doesn’t go into too much detail, but just enough as a good introduction.
For a topic that is often considered ‘boring’, this book aims to make it fun and informative with its rhyming text. Best suited to around Grade 2.
The Great Dewey Hunt by Toni Buzzeo
It’s always helpful to have some funny, engaging books to teach the Dewey Decimal System and this one is no exception. The librarian in this book is the Ms Frizzle of the library world in my opinion with her outlandish clothing and crazy way. An informative and entertaining book.
The Library Gingerbread Man by Dotti Enderle
This is a really great one to use as an introduction to the Dewey Decimal System for the lower years (Think K-1). It doesn’t go through each of the Dewey classifications, but is useful as great discussion point. Discussion may include points such as : Why do nonfiction books have numbers on them? Why does each book belong in a certain shelf in the library? Where does the Gingerbread man live, and why?
Posters and Displays
It’s important to set the scene with fun displays and bulletin boards that grab students interest while also helping them to learn about the Dewey Decimal System.
If you don’t already have your nonfiction area of the library clearly signed with different Dewey classifications, this is something you should do. Use labels, small posters, section dividers- whatever suits your setup so students can start learning where to locate each topic. I use resources from various library stores as well as some of the signage from my Dewey Decimal specific Library Decor Kit.
If you’re looking for informative posters to use as part of a display, I personally use this set from my Locating Library Resources pack. I blow each poster up, print on color and laminate so I can use them year after year. It has information about the nonfiction and fiction collections in the library and I utilize these when introducing the Dewey Decimal system to students and leave them on display for the duration of our unit.
Mini Videos
I am so grateful to the people who share their library skills clips on YouTube. Sometimes it’s nice to use a little video reinforcement to mix it up, or to introduce the topic. These are a couple of my favorites:
- The Dewey Decimal Rap
Look, I’m not going to lie, it’s a little dated and the audio isn’t as clear as it could be, but the kids think this one is hilarious (and anyone who raps about the Dewey Decimal System gets my vote!). A fantastic way to get student’s attention and get them engaged! - Introduction to the Dewey Decimal System
This one explains the Dewey Decimal System simply and clearly. It’s nice and short (3 minutes!) so your students won’t lose focus- great for around grade 2 level, or as a refresher for your older grades. - The 10 Classifications of the Dewey Decimal System
This sums up the 10 Dewey Decimal System classifications in a very straightforward manner. Unfortunately there is no voice over, so students will have to read each of the slides- could be a great little note taking exercise however!
Hands on Activities
Now that you’ve set the scene with a fun read aloud and you’ve piqued student’s interest with Dewey Decimal signage- it’s time to consolidate students understanding with engaging and hands on activities. My personal favorites are below:
- Dewey Decimal Scavenger Hunt
These scavenger hunt cards are such a student favorite. Simply print, cut and laminate each card for repeated use- I have used these cards with dozens of classes and they hold up year after year. Each student (or pair) gets a scavenger hunt card with a description on it such as : “Imagine you are planning a trip to another country- where would you look?” Students must then find the location of the book and write down the call number (it’s up to you whether you want to be specific down to the last decimal or just have students use the main Dewey Decimal categories). Included is a printable answer sheet so students can record their answers.
- Dewey Decimal Call Number Puzzles
These are particularly useful in teaching students how to order nonfiction books. For some added Dewey Decimal recognition, the pictures on each puzzle correspond with the Dewey category they are ordering.
Again, print, laminate and cut. I store these in Ziplock bags. Oh and a couple of tips:
– I cut the of puzzle pieces with a guillotine- I cannot imagine hand cutting these with scissors!
– I draw a different colored horizontal line over the back of the puzzle before cutting. This way, if any of the puzzle pieces get mixed up (trust me, it happens!) then it’s very easy to figure out which set it belongs to. You can grab this from my store HERE
- Dewey Decimal Matching Cards
These fun little cards can be used as a matching activity or even as a game of memory. Separate the cards into individual packs (students can even work in pairs) and have them match the nonfiction topic with the Dewey category it would be found in. My students love playing memory with this one. If your class is still a little rusty with the Dewey categories, you can hand out a Dewey ‘cheat sheet’ or have them refer to your Dewey display poster.
You can make your own cards or find these as part of my Dewey Decimal themed Library Skills pack (also includes no-prep printables, a cheat sheet and more).
-
- Dewey Decimal Color by Call Number
Ok, so there is definitely those times when we need a quite, no prep activity for students to demonstrate their knowledge. Maybe you’re short on time, you need a quiet activity or you have a sub. These Dewey Decimal Color by Call Number printables are the perfect resource for students to show what they’ve learned. These are basically Color by Number activities- with a twist. Students have to figure out which Dewey category the number belongs to and color the box accordingly.
To save you the time and effort of making your own, I’ve included a Color by Call Number sampler as part of my FREE Resource Library.
Simply complete the form below to gain access to the Little Library Learners Free Resource Library as well as my emails and updates.
- Dewey Decimal Color by Call Number
