LM_NET: Library Media Networking
Thanks to all who shared almanac lessons with me! This is such a wonderful
group! People here are so creative, that this is a very long HIT.
***************************************
Hi
We use the almanac quite a bit. However, I like to have
them learn it within the bounds of a project they are doing.
I do have a Find it in the almanac binder purchased from
them that is great for weekly free time usage by students.
The World almanac also has 2 videos that you can use with
the students and have them go along with the hands on
version.(this keeps their interest and can be suple mented
by you.
Judy
********************************
I have a friend who does this lesson all the time, and it's wonderful. She
does
the "hunt" with pre-prepared questions. And it works. Of course, the team
that
finds the treasure first wins, and it's usually bookmarks or something.
Good luck, Chris
************************************
I have done mini lessons on the almanac. I made copies of pages in the
almanace
and put them on a overhead. Some of the topics that I covered were the
perpetual calendar, the top movies of all time, the top companies in
different
business categories ( I would show them that Pepsico owns Pizza Hut so when
you
go to Pizza Hut you aren't served Coke products), Super Bowl winners,
tallest
buildings, fastest animals, zip codes, etc. When the students finished
listening to my lesson they had to answer ten questions using the almanac.
Most
of the students thanked me and told me that the almanac was a "cool" book.
I
think I achieved my goal of showing them that the almanac is "cool" and
useful.
Hope this helps.
**********************************
Teach them to find things at least two ways. One is using the thumb index
for nations of the world or U.S. States and the other the General Index in
the front of the of the book. I like to make out my own questions. I
usually put the index page to look on and sometime the word to look on,
otherwise you have a excessive number of questions. Another idea is to make
a crossword puzzle out of the assignment. Be sure not to make it to
difficult for the first two assignments. I usually make several versions of
the same assignment so they don't copy their neighbor. (4 versions is my
limit on one assignment which is the number sitting at one table. It uses
the same questions.) It encourages working on their own.
I am doing this with 6th and 7th grades. It is the regular World Almanac.
We don't have the version for Kids. I am not real familiar with it. It
sure helps a lot to have all the same edition. It makes it a lot easier to
answer questions.
Bob King
Midland School
Wyoming, IA 52362
*******************************
I use an almanac lesson that is called "Sue and Louie" I got it from the
Teaching K-8 Carol Hurst column many years back. Sue and Louie are jewel
thieves who have escaped from prison. They send the students letters giving
them clues as to where they will be traveling next. The students use the
almanacs to find their location. The activity is self-checking as the place
names spell out Sue and Louie's final words as they are taken off to jail.
I have the students work in pairs. One student reads the questions and the
other student searches the almanac. My students love it!!!
Natalie Towle
Menominee Middle School IMC
Menominee, MI 49858
towlen@menominee.k12.mi.us
*********************************
Here is what we use: All but one ? is in the regular 2000 almanac.
Using the Almanac
Study Skills - Mr. Nelson
1. What is an almanac?
2. How often is a new one printed?
3. When was the 2000 World Almanac printed?
4. Facts from mostly which year(s) would be found in the 2000 World
Almanac?
5. What kind of 2000 facts can be found in the 2000 World Almanac?
6. Where do you find the complete index?
Page 2_______________
Name:
What’s In The Almanac?
Use the almanac to find the answers to these questions.
1. Who won the World Series in 1983?
2. What is the birth date of Abraham Lincoln? (Please include date and
year)
3. What is the capital of Saudi Arabia? (You’ll need to read a little bit
to
find this one.)
4. What film won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1990?
5. What was the name of the astronaut who is known for being the first
American in orbit in 1962?
6. Which state has the larger area in square miles, Minnesota or
Mississippi?
7. What are the names of the following animal collectives (groups)? (1998
almanac)
kangaroos leopards crows
a) b) c)
8. What invention was invented in Italy in 1709 by a man named Christofori?
(This was sent by David S. Nelson)
*************************
My 4th grade teachers and I do a neat Almanac lesson that we have had fun
with. Students read The Hundred Penny Box by Sharon Bell Mathis, then they
collect a penny from each year of their own lives. They make a poster that
is a grid, with the pennies down one side, then a column titled "In My
Life," one that says "In the United States," and "In the World." They have
to find an event from each year that happened in each area to fill in the
grid. They talk to family to get info about their own lives. They use
almanacs to find national and international events. I teach specifically
how to use the chronology to browse if they aren't looking for anything
specific, and how to use the index to locate specific information. We
brainstorm all the specific facts they might include, like who won the World
Series, what movie made the most money, where did any earthquakes happen,
and that sort of thing. I have at least 2 almanacs from every year for the
last decade, and a classroom set of 1999s, so we don't have much trouble
finding enough. When I teach this next year, I will also dedicate some time
to talking about how one almanac can give you a lot of past information.
It's a fun assignment, and the finished projects are very nice. Good luck!
Stephanie Hodkinson
Vestal Hills Elementary
Vestal, NY
hodkinso@vcs.stier.org
*******************************
We have done a competition. Set up students at different tables (teams)
each student has an almanac. Call out questions. First table w/question
gets a point (involve teacher as score keeper). At the end winning table
gets hard candies.
Bea Ishler, LMS
Bryant High School
Irvington, AL
bishler@mcpss.com
*********************************
they can supply you with worksheets designed for those books. Contact World
almanac education - www.WAE.cc.
*********************************
Did you get a set of blackline masters with the books? I just started using
some with a class today. They seem to concentrate on one particular section
at a time. It seems easier for the kids because they don't have to jump
around as much. If you are creating something from scratch, it may be a
good idea to have a hidden message in it or make a crossword puzzle for it.
Something that they may want to complete to solve the puzzle.
Good luck
Doug Alichwer
Librarian
South Side Elementary
Central Dauphin SD
Harrisburg, PA
**********************************
I just completed an online course.
You may be interested in my fact finders lesson on my porfolio page
the url is
My testimonal can be viewed from my portfolio at:
http://wcb.gouchercenter.edu/wcb/students/sberman/portfolio.html
*********************************
I recently did an Easter Hunt, during National Library Week, with my fourth
graders. I used the 2000 Almanac and made up simple questions like "what is
the currency in Monaco?" or " where is George Washington buried?". I had
the
questions typed and copied. I cut them up into strips and put them into
easter eggs. I hid the eggs around the library where they were easy to see.
THe week before I did this, I let the kids look through the almanacs
reminding them that you can find info in this book using the index or
contents. It maybe too easy for 5th graders but my kids enjoyed it.
Mary Sue Iacovou
AV Ceres School Librarian
Perth Amboy, NJ
*******************************
The archives have a bunch of ideas in them...
Go to: http://ericir.syr.edu/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml
and type in Almanac lessons and up they'll come
Jody Newman
jcnewma@attglobal.net (home)
********************************
Do you have a class set? If so, give a brief overview of the scope,
sections, why it's good (for statistics that change annually, numerical
data, etc.) and show how to use index. Then have two or three questions for
them to find answers to so they get the idea of using the index. Then have
them write questions for others to find the answers to. Have them write the
answer and its page number down on the bottom of their paper and fold and
tape the paper so answer is hidden.
In week two they exchange their questions with others to see if the others
can answer them.
Mary Flanagan, Librarian
Chandler School
93 Chandler Street
Duxbury, MA 02332
781-934-7680
*************************************
I am in the process of putting together an almanac lesson now. I
did get some scavenger hunt questions from a web site and I can interoffice
a copy of them over to you. I recently put together an encyclopedia lesson
(with the new 2001 World Book) that I made into a mystery hunt type of
activity. The kids loved it and it went so smoothly.
****************************************
I did several wonder sessions using the Almanac. First there is a video you
could use to introduce the almanac. I'm at home now so I don't have the
specific information on how to order it. Next, I put questions on index
cards. Divided the class into groups to play a game. I read questions from
the cards. Each group had a leader. They worked together to find the answer
in the almanac. Only the leader could raise their hand and answer the
question. They also had to give me the page they found the answer. I kept
points. They loved the game so much, we played it for weeks. Before this
lesson, none of my teachers used the almanac's so the students were not
familiar with this reference source.
email me if you need more info.
Eileen C. Rice
The Davis Academy
Atlanta, Ga.
riceeileen@hotmail.com
******************************************
I am currently doing a scavenger hunt with my 5th graders using the 1999
World Almanac for Kids. Here is what I am using. You may have to adjust it
for the 2000 edition. The kids really enjoy this and sometimes get
distracted by looking at other things in the almanac... but they are still
learning! Hope this helps!
Almanac Scavenger Hunt
Directions: Use the World Almanac for Kids to find the answers to the
following questions. Don't forget to write down what page you found the
answers on!
1. What do legends say you will be able to do if you kiss the Blarney Stone
in Ireland?
2. Where in Western Europe is Luxembourg located?
3. What three body parts are grouped together and called the digestive
system?
4. What causes earthquakes?
5. What is the origin of Nebraska's name?
6. Find the birthdays of these two celebrities:
Michael Jordan
Rosie O'Donnell
7. What is the birthstone for the month of June?
8. Who created the board game Monopoly?
9. Who is chosen to receive the Heisman Trophy?
10. Who made the first pair of jeans? When?
11. When will Hailey's Comet next appear in the night sky?
12. What state forced the Cherokee Indians to march the "Trail of Tears" to
Oklahoma?
13. What is the largest city in Alaska?
14. What country is home to the highest waterfall in the world?
15. Who were the first to develop the solar calendar?
16. What is the definition of almanac?
17. Who invented the following items? When? Where?
zipper
piano
matches
word processor
18. What is the average depth of the Pacific Ocean?
19. What is the largest city in the world?
20. Who was the 30th President of the United States of America?
******************************************
http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/
http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/lesson.htm
Here are two good sites with a wealth of lesson plans.
Sybil Finemel
Media Coordinator
Los Angeles CA
KidsConnect Volunteer
Virtual Reference Desk Volunteer
sfinemel@mediaone.net
*****************************************
You could try timelines. There are some in the almanac as examples (if
needed) and work up questions, if possible based on some subjects from the
classroom.
Graphing from various statistics tables.
I tend to focus on the access part of using almanacs. ToC, Index (and
subheadings), table headers.
Maybe the teacher has some Social Studies concepts she is working on in
class. Population density, climate, export/import trade, etc. Kids could do
the 'lookup' then synthesize from the information
One of the advantages I point out to kids: The ready access to basic
information. Maybe some sort of game to highlight ease of use compared to
encyclopedia for simple basic statistics like country, state, or timelines
for history (compared to the article in the encyclopedia)
*****************************************
I have a series of questions that I use with students and the 2000 almanac.
I
have another set for the 1993. This year I modified it to match the subject
categories in the fifth grade artifact box project. I can send you both, and
you could combine the questions you want to use. It should take up the two
classes with some instruction to begin the first class.
Would you want them emailed? The best way I've found to do that is to
copy and paste into the body of the email. Then we don't have to worry about
MAC v. PC and Microsoft Word v. other word processing programs. (I'll also
send the answers, with pages found, and index entry words.)
Let me know.
Marie
=================================================
Marie Ferner
State Road Elementary Library
Webster, NY
http://www.websterschools.org/classrooms/state_library/library.html
marifern@aol.com
**********************************
I do a lesson in which the 5th gr. browses the almanac for about 5 min.
They then each write 5 trivia questions with the answers. Then I put
them in groups of 4 or so and they choose which three questions from all
of the group members they want to have in a trivia contest. I have one
of the group type up the questions, answers, group members names on a
sheet of paper. The next week I wll type up those questions without the
answers, but with the group names on them. I give different questions
to each group (none that they did) and they find the answers in the
almanac. Seems to work fine.
Jeanne
********************************
I have been teaching an almanac lesson to my 5th graders for several years,
but
we use the WORLD ALMANAC which I have multiple copies of. First I show a
video
called ANIMATED ALMANAC. This is part of a series which highlights various
reference books and how/why/when to use them. These videos are fairly
entertaining and run about 20 minutes each. My next step is to pass out the
books and go over the 3 indexes in the book. We then look up the answers to
2
or 3 practice sessions. The 3rd part is a sheet of questions which the kids
answer with a partner. We make a game/contest out of it with harder
questions
being worth more points than easy ones. The team which earns the most
points by
answering questions correctly wins ice cream coupons. The kids really enjoy
this activity and work very diligently at the questions. Let me know if you
have any questions or would like to see the questions that I give to my
students. I don't think that you'd be able to use many of them with the
KIDS'
WORLD ALMANAC though.
Good luck. I'd love to see any other ideas that you get.
Sarah Thorn
Rasor Elementary School
Plano, Texas
****************************
when I bought my latest set of almanacs, they threw in a set of blackline
masters and for the life of me, I can't put my hands on it right now. It
did have a lesson on having the kids break into small groups and using an
almanac find and record the weirdest facts they could find and then report
to the group after a brief period of time. If I can remember where the
packet is, I will look thru it again.
jonie fitzsimmons MIRLS
mountainside elementary
ft. carson, co - previously from Centereach
*********************************
I have a lesson that was a huge hits with my kids (4th and 5th). It is a
trivia game. I started by having them browse the Almanac for interesting
facts and then had them make up the trivia questions for the game. I have
19 sections between 4th and 5th grade, so I got plenty of good questions.
If you have smaller numbers, you might have to make up some of your own.
They absolutely loved it. The best part was the one time I happened to ask
a question that a student in that class wrote - they were told from the
beginning that they could answer their own question without looking it up.
It was a "way cool" 5th grader and one of the rare occasions he has ever
shown enthusiasm for anything.
I you want more information, I can e-mail a copy of the lesson plan.
Molly Manning Clark
Library Media Specialist - grades 3-5
Elm St. Elementary School K-5
Phoenix, NY 13135
mclark2@phoenix.k12.ny.us <mailto:mclark2@phoenix.k12.ny.us>
********************************
I haven't done this in a while, but it worked pretty well.
I do a brief intro on what can be found, how it is formatted, etc. We
look together at the contents, index, chapter headings, etc. THEN - the
students each get a notecard on which to write a "stumper" questions
that CAN be answered using the almanac. On the card, for my use, they
also put the page number on which they found the info.
I collect the cards, then either read the questions or write several on
the overhead. The students then use the almanac to find the answers.
Of course, some of the questions weren't "good" questions. If we came
on some that didn't give enough information, etc. we talked about what
makes a good question, how we could change it, etc.
******************************
I have been using the 20 minute video sold by World Almanac to introduce the
many uses of the almanac.
My fifth graders have enjoyed it. I could also use some good follow-up
activities - the problem for me is getting the multiple copies to use with
a class.
Louise Kanaley
French Road Elementary School
Rochester, N.Y. 14618 lkanaley@bcsd.org
*******************************
Marni Sherman, School Librarian
Tackan Elementary School
99 Midwood Avenue
Nesconset, NY 11767
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law.
To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to:
listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER:
1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv.
For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.html
See also EL-Announce for announcements from library media vendors:
http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=
LM_NET
Mailing List Home