Melvil Dewey created the Dewey Decimal Classification System in 1873 when he was 21 years old. The system divides all knowledge into 10 main categories, with each category represented by 3 numbers. The categories are Generalities, Philosophy, Religion, Social Science, Language, Science & Math, Technology, Arts, Literature, and Geography & History. The Dewey Decimal Classification number can be found on the spine of each library book and helps to organize books on the shelves by subject.

1. Dewey Decimal Classification System Presented to First, Second, & Third Grade Students POP Media

2. Who created the Dewey Decimal Classification System ? Melvil Dewey was born on December 10, 1851 Melvil Dewey created the number order system for library books when he was 21 years old. Melvil Dewey started the first school for librarians.

3. Ten Main Classifications in Dewey’s System The world’s knowledge is divided into 10 categories or groups. Each group has a main title and is represented by three numbers.

4. The Big Ten! Generalities – 000 Philosophy – 100 Religion – 200 Social Science – 300 Language – 400 Science & Math – 500 Technology – 600 The Arts – 700 Literature – 800 Geography & History - 900 The Dewey Decimal System brings order to the library.

5. You Can Judge A Book by Its Cover! The Dewey Decimal Classification call number can be found on the spine label. Why? When the book is shelved, the Dewey Decimal Classification call number can be easily seen. 500 Lee 200Bya 000 Mea

6. Generalities - 000 Encyclopedias News media Rare books Encyclopedias, Book of World Records

7. Philosophy - 100 Paranormal phenomena Psychology Logic We think

8. Religion - 200 Bible History of Christianity Other Religions About God

9. Social Science - 300 Government Education Folklore About our neighbors

10. Language - 400 English Spanish Other Languages We talk with others

11. Natural Science & Math - 500 Mathematics Earth sciences Plants Animals We discover what is around us

12. Technology – 600 Medicine Agriculture Family living Things that are useful to us

13. The Arts - 700 Drawing Music Recreational & performing arts We make beautiful things

14. Literature - 800 American Literature Old English Literature Literatures of Other Languages We write

15. Geography & History - 900 Geography Ancient History American History We write about travel, people, and events

16. Flashback! What Do You Remember? Who created the Dewey Decimal Classification System? What does the DDCS do for our library? How many main classifications are there? Where do you find the DDCS number on a library book?

17. Resources Used… All clipart taken from the Microsoft Clipart web site: Information on the Dewey Decimal Classification taken from: Weisburg, H. & Toor, R. Teacher’s Portfolio of Library Skills Lessons & Activities (1985). The Center for Applied Research in Education, Inc. http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?lc=en-us&cag=1