Library Class Curriculum

  • All students attend weekly library classes which focus on the ability to find, access, evaluate and use information.
  • Library projects and units are co-planned with teachers to support the classroom and curriculum.
  • We offer on-demand research assistance, and readers advisory for students, teachers and parents.
  • All library lessons are aligned with Mass DOE, AASL, MSLMA and local standards.

KINDERGARTEN

Kindergarten library classes are 30 minutes a week. Kindergarteners may borrow one book at a time. If they forget their book at home on library day, a second book may be borrowed but must stay in the classroom until the first book is returned.

What do Kindergarteners learn in library class?

  • Library and Information Skills: Library procedures, book care, authors and illustrators, sections of the library, how a book is made, fiction and nonfiction, sequels and series, the Caldecott award
  • Genres: folktales and legends, realistic and fantasy fiction, nonfiction, poety
  • Digital Citizenship: Making safe choices, respecting others' property

GRADE 1

First Graders may borrow one book at a time. If that book is left at home on library day, students may reserve a book. Reserved books are held for one day, and may be picked up in the library once the first book is returned.

What do First Graders learn in library class?

  • Library and Information Skills: Book care, alphabetical order, sections of the library, call number types, finding books in the fiction section, parts of a book (index, table of contents, title page, copyright date)
  • Author studies: Dr. Seuss, Leo Lionni, Bill Peet, H.A. and Margret Rey
  • Genres: Folktales and fairy tales, poetry, tall tales
  • Digital citizenship:   Respecting others' property, parental permission, wolf research on a pre-selected web site, search engine and web site basics
  • Research project: Weather dictionary (Internet research)

GRADE 2

Second Graders may borrow two books at a time. If either one or both books are left at home on library day, students may reserve one or two books. Reserved books are held for one day, and may be picked up in the library once the first book is returned.

What do Second Graders learn in library class?

  • Library and Information Skills: Parts of a book, call number types, print and non-print reference resources: (dictionary, atlas, almanac, encyclopedia), Caldecott awards.
  • Author studies: James Marshall, Audrey and Don Wood
  • Digital Citizenship: Cyberspace neighborhoods; manners in the real world and in cyberspace; filling out an online form: Ask First; keyword searching
  • Genres: Folktales, legends, biographies, historical fiction, nonfiction
  • Research project: biographies

GRADE 3

Third Graders may borrow two books at a time. If either one or both books are left at home on library day, students may reserve one or two books. Reserved books are held for one day, and may be picked up in the library once the first book is returned.

What do Third Graders learn in library class?

  • Library and Information skills: Fiction/fact/opinion, elements of fiction and nonfiction, using the on-line catalog, the Dewey Decimal system, finding information in a book, print and non-print reference resources
  • Genres: Realistic fiction, historical fiction, poetry, nonfiction, tall tales
  • Media Literacy: understanding toy advertising
  • Digital citizenship: Private and personal information, bullying and cyberbullying, inappropriate content, respecting real and intellectual property, author/title/subject/keyword searching in a database
  • Research project: Arthropods (co-planned with classroom curriculum)

GRADE 4

Fourth Graders may borrow two books at a time. If either one or both books are left at home on library day, students may reserve one or two books. Reserved books are held for one day, and may be picked up in the library once the first book is returned. Fourth graders may also borrow additional materials for classroom assignments.

What do Fourth Graders learn in library class?

  • Library and Information Skills: using the online catalog
  • Genre: Realistic fiction, historical fiction, mystery, fantasy, biography, folktales, fairy tales, myths, legends, fables, tall tales, poetry, informational text
  • Media Literacy: understanding food advertising
  • Digital Citizenship: privacy and security, website evaluation, responsible Internet use, cyberbullying, crediting sources
  • Projects: Weather brochures (Internet research, word processing)

GRADE 5

Fifth Graders may borrow two books at a time. If either one or both books are left at home on library day, students may reserve one or two books. Reserved books are held for one day, and may be picked up in the library once the first book is returned. Fifth Graders may also borrow additional materials for clasroom assignments.

What do Fifth Graders learn in library class?

  • Library and Information Skills: online catalog review, electronic and print reference resources review
  • Genres: Historical fiction, fantasy, mystery, biography and autobiography, informational text, poetry
  • Media Literacy: stereotypes in advertising
  • Digital Citizenship: online privacy and security, effective Internet searching, website evaluation, responsible Internet use, cyberbullying, copyright, crediting sources, plagiarism
  • Projects: Library how-to video project