1. The Dewey Decimal Classification System: An Overview for Middle School Students
Letitia Goodman
MEDT 6463

2. Reasons for learning the DDCS…
You are expected to become more independent as you continue the research process now that you are a middle school student…
You are certain to locate books you never knew existed once you begin using the Dewey Decimal Classification System for yourself…
You will discover how much fun reading and researching are as well as how much your media center has to offer…
Let’s get started…
Reasons for learning the DDCS…

3. Melvil Dewey was born on December 10, 1851 in Adams Center, New York
Melvil Dewey was born on December 10, in Adams Center, New York. He died on December 26, 1931 in Lake Placid, Florida.
He is the American librarian who devised the Dewey Decimal System for library cataloging.
In 1886, he published A Classification and Subject Index for Cataloging and Arranging Books and Pamphlets of a Library in which he outlined what eventually became the Dewey Decimal Cataloging System. This system was gradually adopted by libraries throughout the English speaking world.
is the site where this information was found. Excellent site for locating additional information on Dewey and the Dewey Decimal Classification System.
Who is Melvil Dewey?

4. What is the Dewey Decimal Classification System?
The Dewey Decimal Classification System is the most widely used library classification system that provides an organizing system for classifying every item in a library collection.
The Dewey Decimal Classification System is used in more than 200,000 libraries throughout the world.
The Dewey Decimal Classification System uses numbers and letters to coordinate materials on both the same and related subjects to make items easier to located on shelves.
Items are divided into ten (10) main classes for organizational purposes.
The website for the OCLC is very informative. Official and thorough information can be located at the following site:
What is the Dewey Decimal Classification System?

5. The ten main classes are…
: Computer Science, Information, and General Works
: Philosophy and Psychology
: Religion
: Social Sciences
: Language
: Natural Science
: Technology
: The Arts
: Literature
: History
This is where students will be given their bookmarks to assist them in navigating their way through the shelves as they locate books and Dewey numbers during their scavenger hunt. Students should be reminded that they should keep up with the bookmarks as they make handy reference tools for future media center visits.
The ten main classes are…

6. More about the Dewey Decimal Classification System…
Each of the ten groups of the Dewey Decimal Classification System is divided into one-hundred numbers, and from there, the subdivisions are divided into decimal numbers.
For additional information, the Brittanica’s Concise Encyclopedia website has a more concise definition at
More about the Dewey Decimal Classification System…

7. 000-099: Computer Science, Information and General Works
Books that are classified under this group are general in nature and relate to topics such as organizations, publications, and rare books.
004.67
The Incredible Story of Computers
And the Internet by Greg Roza
: Computer Science, Information and General Works

8. 100-199: Philosophy and Psychology 170
Items that relate to metaphysics, logic and philosophy are part of this grouping.
Letters to a Young Brother by Hill
Harper
170.84
Check out this book review:
Letters to a Young
Sister by Hill Harper
Many students in one of the after school programs have read these books as part of a literature circle. Hill Harper really gets to the heart of the issues that many students (both male and female) find interesting and important at the middle school level.
: Philosophy and Psychology

9. All books in this group relate to various religions, religious philosophy, theology, Christianity and the bible.
The History of
the Black Church by
Norma Jean Lutz
277.3
If students want to access research information on religions, this is a good place to look for various selections on world religions, which is a topic often discussed in Social Studies across all grade levels, for all countries studied.
: Religion

10. Topics such as education, law, public administration and customs can be found within this classification.
The Women’s Rights Movement
by Shane Mountjoy
305.42
Immigration
by Roger Hernandez
305.8
This is a popular section in that many books that students will need to use for research purpose can be found here. This is also a good section for teachers to use when working on interdisciplinary and/or concept based units.
: Social Science

11. This selection of books involves material that relates to other languages. You are certain to find a book that is both informative and fun as you will be able to learn many languages from around the world!
Mamy Wata et le Monstre by
Veronigue Tadjo-448/T
463
This is an excellent resource for ESOL/ELL students as they can locate material that is useful to them in a language that is familiar to them, especially those students who are struggling between learning American English and having to use their native language at home to possibly support non-English speaking parents. Books within this section can bring some comfort.
: Language

12. Books from your basic science to animals can be found here.
The Solar System by Robin Kerrod: 523.2
This section is another resource that can allow students to work from an interdisciplinary perspective. These science related books for research purposes will be helpful to 6th grade teachers and satisfies the science standard. Many times students are asked to complete a model of the solar system during the first quarter as part of the Georgia scope and sequence for 6th grade science. S6CS5: Students will use the ideas of system, model, change, and scale in exploring scientific and technological matters-b. Identify several different models (such as physical replicas, pictures and analogies) that could be used to represent the same thing, and evaluate their usefulness, taking into account such things as the model’s purpose and complexity.
: Natural Science

13. The books from this section relate not only to technology, but medical science books are also located here.
Eyewitness Books: Technology by Bridgman
600
: Technology

14. This fun section includes books that relate to music, art, dance, and sports. There is definitely a book here for everyone.
Making Origami Paper Airplanes
By Michael LaFosse
736/L
So much of the time, our Connections (or Specials) teachers are left out of the loop when it comes to recognizing their content areas as being more than just “support” subjects. This section allows students the opportunity to engage in topics relative to those areas independently of their class work. It also provides those students who are interested in the arts, a chance to locate additional information for class assignments and personal enjoyment. Connections teachers can also utilize these resources to support the instructional plan in their areas, as well.
: The Arts

15. Whether you enjoy poetry or reading about your favorite writer (Langston Hughes, perhaps?), this section houses material from some of the world’s greatest writers.
A brief book customer review can be found at the following site:
Poetry for Young People: Lewis Carroll
821/C
So many of the reading standards are relevant to this section. The main reading standard for 6th grade is appropriate for students and teachers interested in resources from this area (ELA6R1a-h focuses on skills that deal with both narrative and expository selections as well as skills involving text and organizational structure, text features, figurative language, and sound devices).
: Literature

16. This section provides books on topics that include historical information, geography and specific information related to countries and all of the continents.
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
by Richard Worth: 440/WOR
This is my first year teaching Social Studies and it has been both a curse and a blessing for me. I enjoy extending my learning of history, as the social studies focus is interesting. The content does lend itself to being able to coordinate interdisciplinary projects, particularly the one on Interdependence. The study of Europe allows for use with this example as pre and post World War 2 activities are warranted.
: History

17. Fiction books… Don’t forget about the fiction books.
They are organized according to the last name of the writer in the fiction section.
For example, if you want to locate the book, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor, you would look in the “T” section alphabetically.
Check out the book review below…
Fic
Tay
The interdisciplinary unit allows for English/Language Arts and Social Studies to be incorporated into a unit that focuses on historical perspective of a specific time period and understanding the literary elements: ELA6R1: The student demonstrates competence and shows evidence of a warranted and responsible explanation of a variety of literary and informational texts-c. Relates a literary work to historical events of the period, e. Identify and analyze elements of setting, characterization, plot and resolution of conflict of a story or play.
Fiction books…

18. Dewey will work for you…
The Media Center is an essential resource in assisting you with all of your reading and researching needs.
The Dewey Decimal Classification System is a significant area that requires you to become familiar with the basic components.
Your book mark and the Dewey Scavenger Hunt should provide further assistance as you continue your growth as a middle school student.
Students should be guided with instructions as to how they are to complete the scavenger hunt. They should already have the bookmarks. Students should also be directed to understand that this scavenger hunt will further reinforce the information they have learned from the power point presentation. The book mark will serve as a reminder when they are locating information independently in the media center.
Dewey will work for you…

19. Check out these great references
Bridgman, R. (2006). Eyewitness books: technology. New York: Dorling Kindersley.
Brittanica’s Concise Encyclopedia (2010). Dewey Decimal Classification System. Retrieved October 17, 2010 from classification.
Carroll, L. (2000). Poetry for young children: Lewis Carroll. New York: Sterling Company.
Georgia Department of Education, (2010). Georgia Performance Standards. Retrieved October 18, 2010 from px.
Harper Collins. (2000). Harper Collins Spanish Concise Dictionary. New York: Author.
Harper, H. (2006). Letters to a young brother. New York: Gotham Books.
Harper, H. (2008). Letters to a young sister. New York: Gotham Books.
Hernandez, R. (2007). Immigration. Broomall: Mason Crest.
Kerrod, R. (2000). The solar system. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications.
LaFosse, M. (2004). Making origami: paper airplanes. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group.
Lutz, N. (2001). The history of the black church. USA: Chelsea House Publishers.
Check out these great references

20. Check out these great resources
References
Mountjoy, S. (2008). The women’s rights movement. New York: Infobase Publishers.
Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), (2010). Retrieved October 18, 2010 from
Roza, G. (2004). The incredible story of computers and the internet. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group.
Tadjo, V. (2000). Mamy Wata et le monstre. London: Milet Publishing Limited.
Taylor, M. (2000). Roll of thunder, hear my cry. New York: Dial Books. (Original work published 1976)
Wesper, Frank (2010). “Let’s Do Dewey.” Retrieved October 18, 2010 from
Worth, R. (2001). The attack on Pearl Harbor. Chicago: Reed Educational and Professional Publishers.
Graphic Sources
All book images retrieved from amazon.com on October 18, 2010.
All book titles, Dewey numbers and author names retrieved from Harper-Archer Middle School Media Center on October 13, 2010.
Check out these great resources