ABC & Dictionary Centers for the Library
Upper grades 3rd – 5th
Center 1 – Dictionary Task Cards
1. Print and laminate the dictionary task list that has the directions for the
students.
2. Make a set of cards (vary depending on grade level)
Center 2 – Dictionary Markers
1. Print and laminate the Dictionary Marker with directions for the students
2. Cut strips of construction paper (different colors)
3. Write words from the dictionary on each paper (vary depending on grade
level)
4. Print off the Definition page for Dictionary Markers for each group
Center 3 – Dictionary Scavenger Hunt
1. Print and laminate the Dictionary Scavenger Hunt directions page
2. Print off the Scavenger Hunt and laminate for continued use
Center 4 – Dictionary Dig
Center 5 – Dictionary in Pictures
Center 6 – Dictionary Games
Center 1 – Dictionary Task Cards
Materials Needed: Pre-made task cards, pencil, paper
Dictionary Task Cards
Work together to solve each task
Record your answers on a sheet of paper
Center 1 – Dictionary Task Cards
Dictionary Task Card #1
Dictionary Task Card #2
Look up: ferret
Look up: influenza
What word does “ferret” come from?
What is the definition?
What language?
What part of speech is influenza?
Record your answers on a sheet of
paper
Record your answers on a sheet of
paper
Dictionary Task Card #3
Dictionary Task Card #4
Look up: menu
Where did the word come from?
How is it pronounced?
Record your answers on a sheet of
paper
Dictionary Task Card #5
Look up: pajamas
What is the definition?
What are the guide words at the top of
the page?
Record your answers on a sheet of
paper
Dictionary Task Card #6
Look up: rare
Look up: sculpture
List synonyms for rare
What are other forms of sculpture
(tenses)
Use the word rare in a sentence
Record your answers on a sheet of
paper
How many definitions are there for
sculpture?
Illustrate the word
Record your answers on a sheet of
paper
Center 1 – Dictionary Task Cards
Dictionary Task Card #7
Dictionary Task Card #8
Look up: eggplant
Look up: incognito
What part of speech is eggplant?
What is the definition?
Draw a picture of an eggplant?
Use the word in a sentence?
Record your answers on a sheet of
paper
Record your answers on a sheet of
paper
Dictionary Task Card #9
Dictionary Task Card #10
Look up: neckerchief
What is the plural form (how do you
write more than one of these)?
Draw a picture of a neckerchief?
Record your answers on a sheet of
paper
Look up: toboggan
What are the guide words at the top of
the page?
Draw a picture of a toboggan
Record your answers on a sheet of
paper
Dictionary Task Card #11 Dictionary Task Card #12
Look up: watercress
Look up: mahogany
How is it pronounced?
What is the plural form of this word?
Use the word in a sentence
How would you use mahogany?
Record your answers on a sheet of
paper
Record your answers on a sheet of
paper
Center 2 - Dictionary Markers
Dictionary Markers
1. Put the words in ABC order
2. Find each word in the dictionary and use the
marker to hold its place.
3. Go back to the first word and fill out the
definition sheet. Write what the word means
and use it in a sentence.
Center 2 – Dictionary Markers
Suggestions of words:
3rd grade – anteroom, bedlam, caraway, doily,
epidemic, footnote, gouge, hanker, lament,
mirage, nomad, pliable, quince, salve, soothsayer,
throttle
4th grade –animosity, bassoon, candid, dictator,
enamel, forage, haddock, inundate, maxilla,
oppress, patent, ration, scruple, tedious, uproot,
wane, yearling
Center 2 – Dictionary Markers
Definitions
Word
Definition
Sentence
Center 3 – Dictionary Scavenger Hunt
Materials needed: Dictionary, pencil, paper
Dictionary Scavenger Hunt
1. Look up each question on the scavenger hunt
2. Record your answers on a sheet of paper
Center 3 – Dictionary Scavenger Hunt
Write the name of the dictionary.
___________________________________________________
2. In what year was the dictionary published?
___________________________________________________
3. What is the first word listed in the dictionary?
___________________________________________________
4. What is the last word listed in the dictionary?
___________________________________________________
5. How many pages does the dictionary have?
___________________________________________________
6. How many pages of words starting with x are in the dictionary?
___________________________________________________
7. Look up the word one. In addition to being a noun it is also an
_______________________ and _________________________
8. Look up the word narcissus. It is a type of
___________________________________________________
9. Look up the word fire. How many syllables does it have?
___________________________________________________
10. Find the first noun in your dictionary that has four syllables.
___________________________________________________
11. What is the first word in the r section of the dictionary?
___________________________________________________
Center 3 – Dictionary Scavenger Hunt
12. What is the last word in the u section of the dictionary?
___________________________________________________
13. How many pages of words starting with q are in the dictionary?
___________________________________________________
14. Look up the word azure. It is a shade of
___________________________________________________
15. Look up the word larynx. Where is the larynx located?
___________________________________________________
16. Find the first adjective in your dictionary starting with m.
___________________________________________________
17. Look up the word pocket. In addition to being a noun it is also an
_______________________ and a_________________________
18. Look up the word burro. It is a small
___________________________________________________
19. Look up the word calico. How many syllables does it have?
___________________________________________________
20. Find the first verb in your dictionary starting with s that has three
syllables. ___________________________________________________
Center 4 - Dictionary Dig
Materials Needed: Dictionary dig worksheet, pencil, paper
1. Read each question on the dictionary dig worksheet
2. Answer each question on a separate sheet of paper
Center 4 – Dictionary Dig
1. Find a five-syllable word
2. What page was it located
on?
3. What are the guide
words on this page?
4. Find a noun
5. What page was it located
on?
6. Find a two-syllable
word.
7. What page was it located
on?
8. What are the guide
words on this page?
9. Find an adjective
10. Use that word in a well
formed sentence.
11. Find a word that begins
with a C that is a noun.
12. What are the guide
words on this page?
13. Find a verb.
14. What are the guide
words on this page?
15. Find a word that can be
made plural.
16. Find a word that has an
illustration beside it.
17. Write the definition of
this word.
18. Use this word in a
sentence
19. Write a set of guide
words that begin with X.
20. Find a word that has
more than one meaning
Center 5 – Dictionary in Pictures
Materials Needed: Construction paper, markers, crayons, pencils, stapler, old
magazines
1. Create a 10 page mini booklet (use the sample included as
your example)
2. Draw or cut out pictures of everyday items
3. Glue to a page in your mini booklet
4. Look up the definition and write it under the picture
Center 6 – Dictionary Games
Dictionary Game
Materials Needed: One dictionary, Small note sized pieces of paper (like
Post It Notes), Pencils
To play:
1. On player (The Reader) chooses a REALLY hard word from the
dictionary and writes it down on a card.
2. The player then makes up TWO new definitions for the word.
3. Then, the player reads the word and the three definitions.
4. The other players have to guess which is the real definition of
the word.
5. Each person in the group should get to be the Reader 2 times.
If you finish the game, you may go to the computers
Go to the library website
Click on the word games link on the left