The Book Disaster

or

Dewey "SWAT" Team to the Rescue

A WebQuest for Fourth Grade

Designed by
Sara Ferris

Wolf Swamp Road Elementary School
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Last updated February 2003

Teacher Page
Introduction | Learners | Standards | Process | Resources | Evaluation |
Conclusion |Credits | Student Page

Introduction

This lesson was developed as part of a WebQuest course, funded by a Massachusetts DOE Lighthouse Technology Grant. The course was offered through the Longmeadow Public Schools.

Students will assume various roles in researching Melvil Dewey, his development of the Dewey Decimal System, and the purpose of the Dewey Decimal System in organizing books. A team of four will work together to write an informational handbook. Included in the handbook must be a biography of Melvil Dewey, a brief history of how the DDS was created, a short chapter on each of the 10 main categories in the DDS, and a closing chapter which tells why the DDS is helpful to us. The handbook must have a title page, a table of contents, and a bibliography/webliography.

Learners

This lesson is anchored in the fourth grade library/media curriculum
of the Longmeadow Public Schools. Prior to beginning this lesson, students will have begun their study of the Dewey Decimal System, and have a basic understanding of the 10 general categories.

Curriculum Standards

Massachusetts Department of Education English Language Arts Standards addressed:

24.2 Identify and apply steps in conducting and reporting research.

  • Define the need for information and formulate open-ended research questions.
  • Initiate a plan for searching for information.
  • Locate resources.
  • Evaluate the relevance of the information.
  • Interpret, use and communicate the information.
  • Evaluate the research project as a whole.

Massachusetts Department of Education Media Standards addressed:
27.2 Create presentations using computer technology
Students will be encouraged to use creative production skills, critical thinking, and teamwork to produce a booklet using word processing or publishing programs, and scanned illustrations.

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Process

Students receive the following instructions:

You will work in a "SWAT" team of four people. Your teacher will divide the class into groups. Once assigned to a group, each member of the group will be randomly selected for one of the roles below. Although each member will be individually responsible for their task, the group will work cooperatively to complete all tasks. Each one of you has an important and expert part to play in this publication. Your roles are:

"SWAT" Team Logician

  • You will write a chapter about the life of Melvil Dewey, the creator of the Dewey Decimal System.

  • You will include some information on how the Dewey Decimal System was developed.

  • You will write the closing chapter which tells why the Dewey Decimal System is important to us.

Here are some web sites to visit for your information:

"SWAT" Team Organizational Expert One

  • You will write a chapter about each of these classes in the Dewey Decimal System:

    000, 100, 200, 300

  • For each of these four classes, you will identify the general category and list five specific and interesting subjects that can be found here. As a guide to the volunteers, you will also include the title of five books in our library for each class.

  • Print the Chapters form to help you take notes.

Here are some web sites to visit for your information:

"SWAT" Team Organizational Expert Two

  • You will write a chapter about each of these classes in the Dewey Decimal System:

    400, 500, 600, 700

  • For each of these four classes, you will identify the general category and list five specific and interesting subjects that can be found here. As a guide to the volunteers, you will also include the title of five books in our library for each class.

  • Print the Chapters form to help you take notes.

Here are some web sites to visit for your information:

"SWAT" Team Project Coordinator

  • You will write chapters about the 800 and 900 classes in the Dewey Decimal System. You will also be responsible for the title page, table of contents, and the bibliography/webliography.

  • For each of these two classes, you will identify the general category and list five specific and interesting subjects that can be found here. As a guide to the volunteers, you will also include the title of five books in our library in each class.

  • Print the Chapters form to help you take notes.
  • Print the Parts of a Book form to help you organize.
  • Print the Bibliography/Webliography form to keep track of the resources you used.

Here are some web sites to visit for your information:

Your entire "SWAT" Team should be familiar with all of the content listed above. Your individual jobs involve writing your assigned chapters or portions of the book. . You may use colorful illustrations (your volunteers prefer that you do)!

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Teacher Page

Teacher Page

Beginning

1

Developing

2

Accomplished

3

Exemplary

4

Score

Knowledge of Content

Showed little or no research or use of information. Many inaccurate details. This wouldn't help!

Showed some research. The information used was basic, and not very helpful. Some inaccurate details. Some people might put books back properly.

Research was adequate. There was some good information, and it was fairly helpful. Details were good. This would help most people!

It's obvious that extra research was done. The information was excellent and extremely detailed. Well done! You are a valuable SWAT team member.

 .

Organization

Confusing. The volunteers will really have a hard time following your handbook. You didn't present your information clearly, and left out many important details.

You presented your information in a way that might be helpful, if the volunteers were really sharp! Your chapters are arranged in order, and contain the basic details and examples.

Your information is well organized. Most of the volunteers can follow this handbook without too much trouble. If you were a little more organized, they might have an easier time organizing the books!

SWAT should stand for Superior Work at All Times! Your booklet is so well organized you could go into publishing. (That would be in the 338's!)

 .

Mechanics

There are many errors in spelling and grammar. You might need to get a dictionary to help you (check the 400's)!

Some words are not spelled correctly. You are missing some capital letters, and there are some mistakes in grammar.

The shelving volunteers thank you for spelling most words correctly, and for proper grammar (most of the time!) It makes their job easier.

Wow, have you been spending a lot of time in the 400's (Language)! Your spelling and grammar are outstanding. SWAT team wins again.

 .

Creativity

You included few or no illustrations, and they were not especially neat or colorful. Check the books in the 700's (Arts and Recreation).

You included some illustrations, and they were appropriate for your content. You don't seem to have done your best, neatest work.

Your booklet is attractive, with many colorful illustrations. Many of the volunteers will enjoy your artwork as well as your instructions.

If your SWAT team career ends, there is definitely one waiting in art (740) for you! Your illustrations are extremely well done, and fit your content perfectly.

 .

Resources

This WebQuest was designed to be completed in the Library/Media Center. Ideally, students will have access to at least two computers with Internet connections per group, as well as the library collection. Each computer must have a word processing or publishing program installed. Students also need access to a scanner and a color printer. They will complete their booklet using the computer, with scanned original illustrations. Students may rotate through centers for computer research, library research, writing and illustrating. The anticipated time frame for the WebQuest is 8-10 class periods of 30 minutes each. One Library/Media Specialist , assisted by a parent volunteer or other adult, should be able to implement the lesson. Although students will be randomly selected for various roles within a group, "gentle guidance" may be useful to match learning styles with tasks.

Evaluation

Beginning

1

Developing

2

Accomplished

3

Exemplary

4

Score

Knowledge of Content

Showed little or no research or use of information. Many inaccurate details. This wouldn't help!

Showed some research. The information used was basic, and not very helpful. Some inaccurate details. Some people might put books back properly.

Research was adequate. There was some good information, and it was fairly helpful. Details were good. This would help most people!

It's obvious that extra research was done. The information was excellent and extremely detailed. Well done! You are a valuable SWAT team member.

 .

Organization

Confusing. The volunteers will really have a hard time following your handbook. You didn't present your information clearly, and left out many important details.

You presented your information in a way that might be helpful, if the volunteers were really sharp! Your chapters are arranged in order, and contain the basic details and examples.

Your information is well organized. Most of the volunteers can follow this handbook without too much trouble. If you were a little more organized, they might have an easier time organizing the books!

SWAT should stand for Superior Work at All Times! Your booklet is so well organized you could go into publishing. (That would be in the 338's!)

 .

Mechanics

There are many errors in spelling and grammar. You might need to get a dictionary to help you (check the 400's)!

Some words are not spelled correctly. You are missing some capital letters, and there are some mistakes in grammar.

The shelving volunteers thank you for spelling most words correctly, and for proper grammar (most of the time!) It makes their job easier.

Wow, have you been spending a lot of time in the 400's (Language)! Your spelling and grammar are outstanding. SWAT team wins again.

 .

Creativity

You included few or no illustrations, and they were not especially neat or colorful. Check the books in the 700's (Arts and Recreation).

You included some illustrations, and they were appropriate for your content. You don't seem to have done your best, neatest work.

Your booklet is attractive, with many colorful illustrations. Many of the volunteers will enjoy your artwork as well as your instructions.

If your SWAT team career ends, there is definitely one waiting in art (740) for you! Your illustrations are extremely well done, and fit your content perfectly.

 .
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Conclusion

In completing this project, students will have grasped the importance of the Dewey Decimal System as an important organizational tool. They will understand the basic arrangement of the 10 major classification categories, as well as the types of subjects they encompass. In checking their own library shelves, as well as visiting various web sites representing Dewey topics, they will have hands-on experience with the "real world" application of the DDS.