In order to understand the dictionary, students need to know how to place words in alphabetical order. Students should have the alphabet available to them, either on their desk as part of their nameplate or as a bookmark. Ask each child to write his or her name clearly on a sentence strip. Place alphabet categories around the room. Ask the children to stand under the correct category their name fits in. Give each group tape to put the names within each group in alphabetical order. If some students have the same beginning letters, introduce the concept of looking at the next letter. Provide the students many opportunities to place words in alphabetical order. They can use their spelling words each week as practice. Place vocabulary words from a science or social studies unit in a basket. The students write these content-rich words in alphabetical order. The children line up in alphabetical order by their first names, last names, middle names, the street they live on or their mother's first name.
Guide words are the words at the top of the page that guide the researcher to the correct page. The word being researched will fall alphabetically between the two words at the top of the page. Give half of the children a pair of guide words, for example, "park" - "pink." Give the other half of the class a word that will fit alphabetically within the two guide words: "pet," for the preceding example. Let the students find their match. Provide the students ample practice doing this activity with other words. As an extension to this activity, ask the students to find their word in the dictionary. They should be able to locate the word using the guide words.
Ask the students to look at the entry of the word. Explain the different parts of the entry that helps them find the meaning. Many words have more than one meaning or can be used as different parts of speech. Ask the students to find a word that can be used many ways, for example, "bear." Provide a sentence using the word, and ask them which meaning is used.
Digital dictionaries include electronic dictionaries and online dictionaries. This type of dictionary makes it easy to look up words without having to figure out alphabetical order. Finding the correct meaning for the context needed is still up to the researcher. Online dictionaries, applications on smart phones and electronic dictionary devices may also have a speaking feature. Show the children how to use an online dictionary by looking up words during computer time.