Doing Dewey

After Grade 4 students investigated several Dewey Decimal 100s categories, we practiced assigning topics to those categories.

Each table received a stack of cards with information like "You want to find crafts to make at your birthday party" and "You want to find a map of Japan." Students worked together to figure out where they'd go to find the information and paste them into the correct column of their "gameboard."

There were some heated discussions. Where would cats go versus tigers and lions? What about the history of dinosaurs?

Even if students didn't put a card in the right column, they got credit for having a good reason for choosing the one they selected. We don't all think the same way as Melvil Dewey!

Being able to categorize information is a skill that students will use in the future, from structuring writing assignments to organizing computer files.

Do YOU know which 100s to look in for the following topics?

• You need to do a report on hurricanes.

• You need to show your classmates how to do origami.

• You need to find a recipe for pancakes.

• You need to learn about what life is like in Brazil.