Session 1 - Revising Alphabetical Order.

Re-read Sebastian's Waddle look at answers to Sebastian's questions and in particular focus on the underlined words. Record these words as a class list.

Discuss the importance of organising words alphabetically. Then ask the class to arrange the words from the above list alphabetically. This could either be done by re-writing the list or by using cards with the words written on.

Ask children to put the above words-cards into alphabetical order. Ask the children to record their results so they can share their finding with the class.

Children to share their results with the class. Discuss whether it makes it easier to find words if they are ordered alphabetically?

Comprehension and Composition 16) to use dictionaries and glossaries to locate words by using initial letters.

Session 2 - Using a dictionary to find a definition.

Re-read "Sebastian's Waddle." Focus on the answers to the questions and look at the underlined words. Ask the children to give possible definitions and then compare these with the given ones. Discuss factual writing/information. Why do we have definitions?

Introduce the children to a class dictionary. Discuss previous work on alphabetical order. How can we use a dictionary effectively.

Give groups a different collection of words. Can they find definition in their dictionary. Alternatively pairs could use a CD Rom to find definitions.

Discuss the different definitions that were found for the same words. How do they differ?

Comprehension and Composition 16) to use dictionaries and glossaries to locate words by using initial letters. 17)that dictionaries and glossaries give definitions and explanations, discuss what definitions are, explore some simple definitions in dictionaries.

Session 3 - To make a simple class glossary.

Re-read "Sebastian's Waddle." Focus on the words which have definitions in the answer part of the text. Read through the definitions and discuss how you could make these into a glossary e.g. into alphabetical order.

Print out the Spring definitions which can be found on the Literacy Links page. Separate the word from its definition and put the actual words into a bag and the definitions on the floor. Sit the children in a circle and take it in turns to see if they can match the word with its definition.

Give groups the words and their definitions. Can the children put them into alphabetical order to make a class glossary for the book?

Put together a class glossary with the definitions from Sebastian's Waddle.

Comprehension and Composition 16) to use dictionaries and glossaries to locate words by using initial letters. 17) that dictionaries and glossaries give definitions and explanations, discuss what definitions are, explore some simple definitions in dictionaries. 18) to make class dictionaries and glossaries of special interest words, giving explanations and definitions,e.g. linked to topics.