Dewey Decimal Classification System

Presented to Second & Third Grade StudentsDeveloped by Karen WardLibrary Media SpecialistEichold-Mertz Elementary School

Who created the Dewey Decimal Classification System?

Melvil Dewey was born on December 10, 1851 Melvil Dewey created the number order system

for library books when he was 21 years old. Melvil Dewey started the first school for

librarians.

Ten Main Classifications in Dewey’s System

The world’s knowledge is divided into 10 categories or groups.

Each group has a main title and is represented by three numbers.

The Big Ten!

Generalities – 000 Philosophy – 100 Religion – 200 Social Science –

300 Language – 400

Science & Math – 500 Technology – 600 The Arts – 700 Literature – 800 Geography & History - 900

Brings order to the massive amount of world knowledge

You Can Judge A Book by Its Cover!

The Dewey Decimal Classification call number can be found on the spine label.

Why? When the book is

shelved, the Dewey Decimal Classification call number can be easily seen.

500Lee

200Bya

000Mea

Generalities - 000EncyclopediasNews mediaRare Books

Encyclopedias, References

Philosophy - 100

Paranormal phenomenaPsychologyLogic

Man thinks

Religion - 200

BibleHistory of ChristianityOther Religions

About God

Social Science - 300

LawEducationFolklore

About man’s neighbors

Language - 400

EnglishSpanishOther Languages

Man talks with other men

Natural Science & Math - 500

MathematicsEarth sciencesPlantsAnimals

Man discovers all that is around him

Technology – 600

MedicineAgricultureFamily living

Man makes useful things

The Arts - 700

Drawing MusicRecreational & performing

artsMan makes beautiful things

Literature - 800

American LiteratureOld English LiteratureLiteratures of Other Languages

Man writes

Geography & History - 900

GeographyBiographiesAncient History

Man writes about travel, people, and events

Flashback! What Do You Remember?

Who created the Dewey Decimal Classification System?

What does the DDCS do for our library?How many main classifications are

there?Where do you find the DDCS number on

a library book?

Resources Used…

All clipart taken from the Microsoft Clipart web site:

Information on the Dewey Decimal Classification taken from: Weisburg, H. & Toor, R. Teacher’s Portfolio of Library Skills

Lessons & Activities (1985). The Center for Applied Research in Education, Inc.

http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?lc=en-us&cag=1