Dig Into the Dictionary

Designed by: Jodi McGill, Caughman Road Elementary

Grade Level: Second     Subject: Language Arts

Core Curriculum Objective: 
Use alphabetical order to locate information in a dictionary, glossary, encyclopedia, and automated/card catalog. (2-AR-2) 

State Standard:  Research/Locate information in reference materials/use dictionaries, encyclopedias, and indices. (2VB3)

Overview: The teacher will review the sequence of the letters of the alphabet and help the students locate the beginning, middle, and end of the alphabet. The teacher may use a variety of alphabet books, such as A is for Alice, The Yucky Reptile Book, or The Z Was Zapped to motivate students as they decide on the three parts of the alphabet. Through games in small groups and computer demonstration on the dictionary, the students will become familiar with locating information in a dictionary. As a culminating activity, students will create a class dictionary of animals.

Focus Question: 
What is a dictionary? 
What can be found in a dictionary? 
How do we use a dictionary?

Time Frame: 2 days ( 45 minutes each)

Resources/Materials: 
Dictionaries 
Paper/pencils 
Construction paper 
Markers 
Small container(margarine container) 
Word cards 
Overhead projector/pens 
Transparencies 
Averkey/television 
Computer/internet server 

Books to Share: 
- Chris Van Allsburg 
Other alphabet books of choice

Assessment: Day One: 
Alphabet Game - Students will work in pairs to identify the beginning, middle, and ending of the alphabet through a game. 1 Point will be awarded for each correctly identified classification; so that: 15 + points = + 10 - 14 points = / 9 or below = -

Day Two: 
Classroom Dictionary: Students will be assigned certain letters of the alphabet to locate animals in the dictionary (on computer) to include in the classroom dictionary. 

Criteria for Dictionary: 
5 points awarded for each of the following: . . . Correct letter and spelling . . . definition of word . . . Illustration of word showing attributes 

So That: 15 points = + 10 points = / 5 points or less = -

Instructional Activities: 
Day One: 

1. The teacher will tell the students that they will be learning more about the alphabet and a very important book called a dictionary. The teacher will ask thought provoking questions, such as Who has heard of a dictionary before? Who can find a dictionary in our classroom? What do you find in a dictionary? 

2. Students will listen to the teacher read an alphabet book of her choice. * The Z Was Zapped is an interesting one that gets students involved through the use of illustrations. 

3. The teacher will direct the students' attention to the alphabet cards in the classroom ( over the chalkboard or on students' desks). She will quickly call out a letter and have students identify the next letter in the alphabet. On the overhead, she will write the alphabet letters in one row. As a class, they will divide the alphabet into 3 sections (beginning, middle, and ending) * A - G = beginning/ H - Q =middle/ R - Z = ending * 

4. In small groups - students will make 2 word cards for every letter of the alphabet. ( Apple, Alice, banana, bicycle, etc.) * The words do not need to be the same in each group but can be if done as a whole group activity). In partner groups, one student will be the dealer. One card will be displayed from the deck of cards on the desk. Students in the group sit facing the cards. To begin play, the dealer flashes another card. The first of the two students to call out the word that is alphabetically first, wins the hand. The round is over when the all the cards have been dealt. Points are given for each "match".

Day Two: 

1. Review the beginning, middle, and ending of the alphabet with the students. Call out different words and have students decide if the word would be found in the beginning, middle, or end of the dictionary. 

2. Using the Averkey and computer, the teacher will access www.enchantedlearning.com . The teacher will locate Dictionary skills. Students will be led through the steps to choose a letter and access a "page" of a dictionary. Students will decide what word to "look up" on that page. They will see the different pieces of information that can be found in a dictionary. The teacher will go through several letters of the alphabet, allowing students to dictate which letters and words they would like to access. 

3. Using the same website individually, students will be assigned specific letters to "research" and find an animal that begins with that letter and print out the page with that information. Then the student will take this information to his desk and create a dictionary page with the letter, animal, definition, and illustration. This will be done on construction paper. See Assessment for criteria to be included