Using The World Almanac for Kids, 3rd graders will learn how to use the Table of Contents and the Index to find information in this reference book. Students apply this new knowledge by developing their own "game-show" questions. Game will be played by the entire class.

Using The World Almanac® for Kids and working with a partner, the student will:

• Demonstrate how the Table of Contents is used to find information by completing a worksheet.
• Demonstrate how an Index is used to find information by completing a Activity sheet;
• Apply knowledge of using Table of Contents and Indexes to create original question(s) from the almanac for teacher (and other students) to answer.

 

The World Almanac® for Kids 2008 for “Birthday Fun”

Classroom set of The World Almanac® for Kids 1999. (Note: I am using the 1999 version because that is the classroom set available. Lesson can be adapted for updated versions.)

Handout Packet (7 pages)

Student Learning Checklist

Pencils

Whiteboard, markers, eraser

 

Sources:

Harada, Violet H. and Joan M. Yoshina. Assessing Learning: Librarians and Teachers as Partners. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2005.

 

The World Almanac for Kids 1999. Mahwah, NJ: Primedia Reference, 1998.

 

The World Almanac for Kids 2008. Mahwah, NJ: Primedia Reference, 2007.

 

 Prep: Before 1^st day of lesson, TL and CT work together to partner students appropriately; each ELL or Resource Room student will be partnered with helpful student who has strong reading skills.

Day 1

·         TL will ask students if anyone knows what an almanac is. TL explains that it is a book of “Fun Facts” and gives examples.

·         TL plays, “Birthday Fun!” (about 10 minutes). Each student shares their birthday and TL looks up which celebrity shares that student’s bd (WAFK2008 lists celebrity birthdays for each day of year.  Kids love this!)

·         TL asks how one might find the page where a “fun fact” is located. 

·         Explains advance organizer on finding information in almanac (Handout p.1).

TL explains “Table of Contents” and begins TOC Worksheet (Handout p.2) as whole class instructional activity.

Day 2

·         Review Day 1 Lesson: Table of Contents; what is it? Where is it? How does it help you to find information?  (Assess readiness for moving on to Index lesson).

·         Explain purpose of Index (get you to page where info can be found); where Index is found (back of book); how it is organized (ABC order).

·         Whole class instruction modeling and completing Index Worksheet (Handout p.3).

·         Group (partners) begin to work together to complete their choice of three Activity sheets with three levels of difficulty (Handout pp.4-6).

Day 3

·         TL will guide teams to create original question (Handout p.7) to play, Are You Smarter than a 3^rd Grader?

·         Teacher and students use almanacs to play game.

 If teams need extra time to develop questions, game can be extended into Day 4.

TL provides Graphic Organizer of ToC/Index (Handout p.1)
Table of Contents Worksheet (Handout p.2)
Index Worksheet (Handout p.3)
Activity Sheets: Choice of topic at three levels of difficulty to be completed with partner (Handout pp. 4-6)
Student partners will develop original questions from almanac.
Game
Student Checklist for reflection on learning