South Fayette Township School District

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Library Classes

The mission of the South Fayette Middle School Library is to provide students with the skills needed to be a proficient reader, writer, and researcher. The library offers a variety of books that enhance classroom learning and encourage reading for pleasure.

Students in both fifth and six grade attend library as a nine week course, either day A or B. Click here for a description of the curriculum for grade 5 or grade 6. Teachers in grades 5-8 may utilize the library for research by contacting the librarian.

Classroom Expectations for the Library

Students are expected to follow the rules stated in the Student Handbook.

Students are expected to show respect for themselves, their peers, their teacher, and all library materials including, but not limited to, books, magazines, and computers.

Students must use only approved web sites and are not permitted to 'surf the web.'

Click here to view the Library Classroom Expectations 5 or Library Classroom Expectations 6.

Grade 5

Library instruction at the 5th grade level is a continuation of acquiring library research skills. Students will learn how to use the library: the online card catalog, nonfiction shelving, the Dewey Decimal System and other printed resources. Students will also be introduced to Power Library, an online collection of searchable databases containing up to date information.

Book Advertisements

In addition to assigned class work, each student must read three (3) books, either fiction or nonfiction during the semester. These books must be grade level appropriate. Students can read books from our library, the public library, or their home library. Each book is worth ten (10) points. Students must complete at least one oral book advertisement and at least one written book advertisement.

Grade 6

Library instruction at the 6th grade level includes the use of printed reference materials as well as online resources. Online research skills include the using four Power Library databases, techniques for searching the Internet effectively, and evaluating the content of web sites. Students will research a topic using both print and online resources and present the topic to the class.

Battle of the Books

Sixth grade students will compete in a Battle of the Books Competition at the end of the term. Throughout the course, students must read at least three of the BOB books, completing a project on two of the books. Students will be given choices of projects to compelete. Project choices (click on the project to learn more about it and see the rubric):

Scrapbook
Book Jacket
Newspaper
Artifact Kit
Life Size Poster
Diorama

The mission of the South Fayette Township School District, as an integral part of the community, is to foster development and growth of each student's full academic, artistic and athletic potential by providing exemplary opportunities in a caring, safe, positive environment; to promote lifelong learning, and to cultivate ethical, responsible, contributing members in a global society.