Library Centres Series: Dictionary Detective!

Does anyone else have an old, dusty, gigantic dictionary collecting dust on a nice stand in their Library?

I decided to give some love to our trusty dictionary.  I wanted to meet three goals with this Library Centre:

1) To utilise an already existing area of the Library
2) To bring students into the Library
3) To develop research/dictionary skills

I introduced this centre last Wednesday and it took off like a racehorse!  After setting up the centre (which was already getting some attention due to the Book Fair also occuring) students were lining up to get their names in the draw.

This is what the centre looks like:

Dictionary Detective Centre

The total cost of this centre was about $3.  In part because I already had a lot of the materials.  The only thing that I had to purchase was the picture frame.  The Centre is located right beside the entrance, right beside the book return slot.

The centre sign was printed on cardstock and then coloured with felt markers (in part because my colour ink was all gone).  The picture was taken from google images.  The 'word of the week' is written on a post-it note and is changed every Wednesday.  The frame was purchased from the Dollar Store for $2.  It has an easy-open back since I will be changing the word weekly.

The entry forms are small (approximatly 2x4") where the students write down the required information.  Although I mentioned it to the students, I get the feeling the draw box may be stacked.  Therefore, I have my work cut out for me to check there are no double entries.  Havn't decided whether or not I will repremand students for their lack of listening skills yet.  I guess I'll see if there are any darlings who decided to not play by the rules.



The draw box is simply a lidded box found from the depths of my spare room.  It was a dollar store purchase years ago.  Two golf pencils are attached using fuzzy yarn.  Anyone else have a case of disappearing pencils in their classrooms or Library?

The draw will occur every Wednesday (a day I work) and will be announced on the morning announcements.  Shortly thereafter the word of the week changes and we continue on.  For the prize, students will be awarded a cool pencil and these nifty Guinness World Record Bookmarks found at Kool and Child for 3.49 for a package of 30.  The prize will also consist of a free bag of popcorn from the weekly school fundraiser.

What contests do you have running at your school? I love hearing about what other schools are doing to promote their Library.  This post will be part of a series of Library Centres that I will be adding to weekly.  Please feel free to ask me any questions or ideas for blog posts! Thanks for reading!