Library Curriculum

Kindergarten: 

What does your KINDERGARTEN student do in the library?

Kindergarten students visit the library twice a week with their class for 30 minutes each period. One library visit is devoted to a library lesson, which consists of either a read-aloud and discussion, a craft project or a library skills lesson (finding books in the library, practicing ABC order, etc.) and the other is their “checkout” day when they get to choose and check out a library book.

A big part of the Kindergarten library experience is learning to become responsible for bringing back their library books on time! Kindergarten students are allowed to check out one book per week.

Kindergarten students…

       · Learn about the purpose of libraries

       · Learn about taking good care of books

       · Explore different kinds of books, and understand the difference between fiction “story” books and nonfiction       “information” books

       · Learn to choose books appropriate to their interests and reading level

· Listen to and discuss great stories


 First Grade: 

What does your FIRST GRADE student do in the library?

First grade students visit the library twice a week with their class for 30 minutes each period. One library visit is devoted to a library lesson, which consists of either a read-aloud and discussion, a project or a library skills lesson (finding books in the library, practicing ABC order, etc.). The second class visit is their “checkout” day when they get to choose and check out a library book.

At the beginning of the year, first grade students are allowed to check out one book. As they become more responsible about bringing their books back on time, they may check out two books.

First Grade students…

· Review the purpose of libraries

· Review good book care

· Explore many different kinds of books, and review the difference between fiction “story” books and nonfiction “information” books

· Learn that the fiction books are organized in “ABC order”, and practice finding books placed on the shelves in alphabetical order.

· Learn to choose books appropriate to their interests and reading level – in particular, how to choose easy chapter books for independent readers

· Listen to and discuss great stories


 Second Grade: 

What does your SECOND GRADE student do in the library?

Second grade students visit the library twice a week with their class for 30 minutes each period. One library visit is devoted to a library lesson, which consists of either a read-aloud and discussion, a project or a library skills lesson (finding books in the library, practicing ABC order, etc.). The second class visit is their “checkout” day when they get to choose and check out a library book.

At the beginning of the year, second grade students are allowed to check out 2 books. 

Second Grade students…

· Review good book care

· Review the difference between fiction “story” books and nonfiction “information” books

· Review the location of Fiction books (picture books, easy chapter books, and chapter books), and learn the about the location and organization of Nonfiction books

· Learn to choose books appropriate to their interests and reading level – in particular, how to choose chapter books appropriate for their growing reading skills

· Complete a variety of research projects using books and online resources

· Listen to and discuss great stories

· Cite sources of research


 Third Grade: 

What does your THIRD GRADE student do in the library?

Third grade students visit the library twice a week for two 30 minute periods. The first library visit is devoted to a library lesson, which consists of either a read-aloud and discussion or a library skills/research lesson, and the second visit is to choose and check out books.

Third grade students may check out up to 3 books.

Third Grade students…

· Review the difference between fiction “story” books and nonfiction “information” books

· Learn to use the online catalog and begin to independently locate fiction books (picture and chapter books)

· Learn about the organization of nonfiction books using the Dewey Decimal System

· Review how to choose books appropriate to their interests and reading level – in particular, how to choose chapter books appropriate for their growing reading skills

· Learn about and recite poetry

· Complete a Bay Area research project using online resources

· Extend their knowledge of digital citizenship

· Cite sources of research

· Listen to and discuss great stories, focusing on award-winning authors


 Fourth Grade: 

What does your FOURTH GRADE student do in the library?

Fourth grade students visit the library once a week with their class for 45 minutes. They may listen to a read-aloud and participate in a discussion, or they may have a library skills/research lesson. The last 5-10 minutes is devoted to book borrowing. Fourth graders may return to the library during lunch recess on Wednesdays and Thursdays for additional borrowing and reading time.

4th Grade students may check out up to 4 books.

Fourth Grade students…

· Review the organization of nonfiction books using the Dewey Decimal System and learn to independently locate books in this section

· Practice using the online catalog to locate books, reviewing the different ways to search (by Author, Title, Subject or Keyword), how to place holds, create lists, etc.

· Review how to choose books appropriate to their interests and reading level

· Review the definition and purpose of print and online reference sources, and practice using print and online reference materials

· Review and practice key research skills such as note-taking, paraphrasing and summarizing information and how to create a bibliography

· Listen to and discuss great stories, focusing on award-winning authors


 Fifth Grade:  

What does your FIFTH GRADE student do in the library?

Fifth grade students visit the library once a week with their class for 45 minutes. They may listen to a read-aloud and participate in a discussion, or they may have a library skills/research lesson. The last 5-10 minutes is devoted to book borrowing. Fifth graders may return to the library during lunch recess on Wednesdays and Thursdays for additional borrowing and reading time.

Fifth grade students may check out up to 5 books.

Fifth Grade students…

· Review the organization and location of Fiction and Nonfiction books and practice independently locating materials in all parts of the library

· Practice using the online school library catalog as well as the local public library catalog to locate books, practicing the different ways to search (by Author, Title, Subject or Keyword), reviewing how to place holds, create lists, etc.

· Review how to choose books appropriate to their interests and reading level

· Review the definition and purpose of print and online reference sources, and practice using print and online reference materials

· Review and practice research skills such as using text features such as the table of contents and index to locate information, note-taking, paraphrasing and summarizing, locating and recording bibliographic information, etc.

· Use library materials to research information on several projects, which may include Native/First Americans, Explorers, U.S. states, and Environmental Studies 

· Are introduced to and discuss the concept of plagiarism

· Work towards being “information literate” – ethical consumers and producers of information