Sheila SquireMEDT 6463

The Dewey Decimal Classification System

This presentation is designed as an introduction to the Dewey Decimal

Classification System for third grade students. After the presentation, students

will have a better understanding of how non-fiction books are organized in a media

center. Students will be able to locate books for research purposes and pleasure reading.

Scope

• The Dewey Decimal Classification System is a way of organizing non-fiction books in a media center invented by Melvil Dewey.

What is the Dewey Decimal Classification System?

• It is used all over the world.

Why do we need to know about it?

• By grouping books of the same subject together, it makes it easier to find them.

• A combination of numbers and letters is used to identify each non-fiction book.

• This is called the call number and is located on the spine of the book.

• The number represents the subject of the book.

• The letters are the first three letters of the author’s last name.

Dewey Decimal Classification System

There are 10 main classes that make up the Dewey Decimal

System.

Meet “Dewey”Generalities

000(above head)

• Books with many subjects all in one.

• Encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, etc.

• Guinness World Record books

Generalities 000-099

Generalities000

(above head)

Philosophy and Psychology100

(brain)

• Books on feelings, thoughts and ideas

• Books on self-improvement

Philosophy and Psychology 100-199

Click on book for an overview.

Generalities000

(above head)

Philosophy and Psychology100

(brain)

Religion200

(eyes)

• All the ideas of religion

• What different religions believe

• Stories and books from the Bible

Religion 200-299

Generalities000

(above head)

Philosophy and Psychology100

(brain)

Religion200

(eyes)

Social Sciences300

(smile)

• Books about laws and government

• Books about the holidays

• Folk Tales and Fairy Tales

• Books on customs

Social Sciences 300-399

Generalities000

(above head)

Philosophy and Psychology100

(brain)

Religion200

(eyes)

Social Sciences300

(smile)

Language400

(talking mouth)

• Books about foreign languages such as Spanish, French, German, etc.

• English Grammar – nouns, verbs, adjectives

Language 400-499

Generalities000

(above head)

Philosophy and Psychology100

(brain)

Religion200

(eyes)

Social Sciences300

(smile)

Language400

(talking mouth)

Science500

(neck)

• Mathematics

• Astronomy (study of space, stars, and planets)

• Birds, plants, landforms, volcanoes

• Wild animals (including dinosaurs)

Natural Sciences & Mathematics 500-599

Click on book for more information.

Generalities000

(above head)

Philosophy and Psychology100

(brain)

Religion200

(eyes)

Social Sciences300

(smile)

Language400

(talking mouth)

Science500

(neck)

Technology600

(shoulder)

• Cars, trucks, motorcycles

• Making electronic gadgets

• How things work

• Care of pets

• Medicine

• Cookbooks

Technology 600-699

Generalities000

(above head)

Philosophy and Psychology100

(brain)

Religion200

(eyes)

Social Sciences300

(smile)

Language400

(talking mouth)

Science500

(neck)

Technology600

(shoulder)

Arts and Recreation700

(hands)

• Sports

• Music

• Arts and Crafts

• Painting and Drawing

Arts & Recreation 700-799

Generalities000

(above head)

Philosophy and Psychology100

(brain)

Religion200

(eyes)

Social Sciences300

(smile)

Language400

(talking mouth)

Science500

(neck)

Technology600

(shoulder)

Arts and Recreation700

(hands)

Literature800

(heart)

• Short stories

• Plays

• Poems

• Riddle & Joke Books

Literature 800-899

Generalities000

(above head)

Philosophy and Psychology100

(brain)

Religion200

(eyes)

Social Sciences300

(smile)

Language400

(talking mouth)

Science500

(neck)

Technology600

(shoulder)

Arts and Recreation700

(hands)

Literature800

(heart)

History and Geography900

(feet)Biographies (body)

• History (wars, countries, groups of people)

• Travel

• Geography (atlases)

Geography & History 900-999

• True story about the life of a person (written by someone else).

• Dewey Number for biographies is 921.

• Autobiography – person writes the story of her own life.

Biographies

Click on bookfor an overview.

SummarizeGeneralities000

(above head)

Philosophy and Psychology100

(brain)

Religion200

(eyes)

Social Sciences300

(smile)

Language400

(talking mouth)

Science500

(neck)

Technology600

(shoulder)

Arts and Recreation700

(hands)

Literature800

(heart)

History and Geography900

(feet)Biographies (body)

Dewey Decimal Classification System Test

Name:_________________________________

1. Books in the library are organized by _________.

a. Subjectsb. Sizesc. Colors

 2. Books are labeled with________.

a. Numbers (500)b. Numbers and Letters (500 SQU)c. Nothing

3. Here is a picture of the cover of a book. Where can you find the Dewey Decimal number?

X Y

Z a. Xb. Yc. Z

4. How many main classes make up the Dewey Decimal Classification System?

a. 1b. 6c. 10

 5. Who invented the Dewey Decimal Classification System?

a. George Washingtonb. Melvil Deweyc. Dewey Decimal

Ajmera, M. (2009). Faith. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Berger, M. (2007). Do stars have points? New York, NY: Scholastic. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Borgia, R. (1993). My first spanish word book. New York, NY: D. K. Publishing, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Bratun, K. (2002). Drawing cats. New York, NY: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

D. K. Publishing. (2013). My first encyclopedia. New York, NY: D. K. Publishing, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

dePaola, T. (1988). Tomie dePaola’s book of poems. New York, NY: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Disney princess cupcakes and more (2011). Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Eick, J. (1998). Garbage trucks. North Mankato, MN: Child's World, Incorporated. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

GaDOE (2013). 3rd grade English language arts common core Georgia performance standards. Retrieved fromhttps://www.georgiastandards.org/Common-Core/Common%20Core%20Frameworks/CCGPS_ELA_Grade3_Standards.pdf

Bibliography

Guillian, C. (2012). Sports. Chicago, IL: Heinemann-Raintree. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Guinness World Records. (2013). Guinness world records 2014. New York, NY: Guinness World Records. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Heller, R. (1998). A cache of jewels. New York, NY: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Jones, T. (2013). Fairy Tales. London: Pavilion Books, Limited. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Kyi, T. L. (2010). Georgia. Vancouver: Whitecap Books, Limited. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Loewen, N. (2002). Do I have to?: Kids talk about responsibility. Mankato, Minnesota: Capstone Press. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Madison, L. (2002). The feelings book: The care and keeping of your emotions. Middleton, WI: American Girl Publishing. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Niven, F. (2013). Weird science jokes. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Incorporated. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Rotner, S & Kelly, S. (2010). Many ways: How families practice their beliefs and religion. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publishing Group. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Bibliography

Seymour, S. (2002). Animals Nobody Loves. San Francisco, California: Chronicle Books LLC. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Sherman, J. (2009). Melvil dewey: Library genius. Minneapolis, MN: Essential Library. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Stevenson, A. (1986). Paul revere. New York, NY: Aladdin. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Thomas, W. D. (2008). What are the parts of the government? New York, NY: Gareth Stevens Publishing. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Bibliography