ABC Bookmaking Builds Vocabulary in the Content Areas

Materials and Technology

Student Interactives

Printouts

Websites

Preparation

 

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY

• Computers with Internet access
  
  
• A collection of nonfiction ABC books (See Suggested ABC Book Titles)
  
  
• Art materials for book creation

 

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STUDENT INTERACTIVES

Grades   K – 12  |  Student Interactive  |  Organizing & Summarizing

Alphabet Organizer

Students can use this online tool to print an alphabet chart or pages for an alphabet book.

 

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PRINTOUTS

• ABC Book Characteristics Sheet
  
  
• ABC Book Checklist
  
  
• ABC Book Rubric
  
  
• ABC Book Word List
  
  
• ABC Storyboard

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WEBSITES

• Dictionary.com

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PREPARATION

1.	Have ABC books available in the classroom. If you cannot find an adequate selection at your school's library, consult with public librarians or elementary school librarians within your district and borrow appropriate books from their libraries. A wide range of higher-level ABC books that appeal to older readers are available on today's publishing market (see Suggested ABC Book Titles).
2.	Make several photocopies of the ABC Book Characteristics Sheet—one for each small group that will work together in evaluating an ABC book.
3.	Make a photocopy of the ABC Book Checklist and the ABC Book Word List for each student in the class.
4.	Make five photocopies of the ABC Storyboard for each student.
5.	Place art materials in a central location in the classroom.
6.	Review and bookmark Internet sites, including sites related to the content area topic and general reference sites, such as encyclopedias and dictionaries.
7.	Select two sample ABC books for a read aloud. Choose one with only one or two words per page, something that would appeal to very young readers. Choose another that has ample text on each page, perhaps with facts, figures, and background about each featured word. For example, simpler texts include Dr. Seuss's ABC: An Amazing Book! and Museum ABC: The Metropolitan Museum of Art; more contextualized are Betsy Bowen's Antler, Bear, Canoe: A Northwoods Alphabet Year and Alma Flor Ada's Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English.

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