Title: Reading Call Numbers

Recommended Grade Level(s): 4-5 (Can be adjusted for older grades)

Goal(s): Students will be able to read nonfiction call numbers and use those numbers to find books.

Materials: Smartboard, books, call number worksheet click to get call number worksheet.

Introduction to the Topic: Use the Smartboard to show the library catalog. Ask a student for a word to search. Point to the various call numbers next to the different books and explain that even though these books have to do with the same topic, they are very different because they have different call numbers.

Procedures:

Have the students look at the various call numbers and ask them what they mean. Explain to the students that different call numbers mean that the books are going to be in totally different areas of the library. Also, depending on the call number, you may not want to look for that book. For example, if you want to learn about dinosaurs, you are not going to look for a book with an FIC call number because it is a fiction book.

Put the Where Can I Find? website on the Smartboard and view it as a class.

Click for the Where Can I Find? website courtesy of the Emerson, New Jersey School District.

Go back to the library catalog and work as a class to find nonfiction books. Model how the numbers are in numerical order.

Pass out the call number worksheet and have the students practice reading call numbers independently.

Assessment Options:

Have a call number scavenger hunt. Divide the students into teams and give them a list of call numbers and have them find the books. They then have to put the books back according to the call number before their team can win.

Students can get into pairs and share what they learned.

Clip art provided by Ms. P's Web Design