WagnerJProjectA_Sec_1

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library

Lesson Plan by Jill Wagner
Grade 4

(Based on the book Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein, Grades 3-6)

Goals:
The students will be activating prior knowledge of the Dewey decimal classification system over
two class meetings. A “welcome back” review of how to use the Dewey Decimal classification
system through problem solving. Through peer cooperation students will solve a number of
puzzles to refresh the forgotten details of the Dewey system’s call numbers categorization.
Students will figure out that books on the same topic are shelved together and understand the
importance of knowing how to find resources using the Dewey Decimal System.

Objectives:
o Students will review the basics of the Dewey Decimal System.
o Students will decipher clues to find resources in the library media center.
o Students will use collaboration and problem solving skills to complete a scavenger hunt
style activity.
o Students will use prior knowledge of the Dewey Decimal System and call numbers to
recognize how to locate books in the library.
o Students will be able to demonstrate basic understanding of the Dewey Decimal System
and how to use decimal number order.
o Student knowledge will be measured in a Dewey Jeopardy game quiz.
o Students will figure out that books on the same topic are shelved together and realize
that research is easier when you know how to navigate the Dewey Decimal System.

Lesson Summary:

This lesson covers 2 days of a Dewey review. It is a good lesson to use when students are
returning in the fall or leaving for summer vacation. A more detailed lesson based around the
reading of the book would be a great spin on this lesson. It depends on your motivation. This
lesson is based on the book “Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library” by Chris Grabenstein. Day
one will include an escape room featuring the “Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library” which is a
brief review of the Dewey Decimal system. Students will be read a brief prologue to the lesson’s
content by the teacher. There will be a beginning letter (see below) projected and read out loud
to the class. This book is about students who have to solve a series of puzzles to unlock the
library to be able to leave for summer vacation. Mr. Lemoncello doesn’t want them to stop
reading over summer break. Students will be divided into teams working their way through the
locks to complete the activity. Below you will find everything you need to make the plan work.
Prologue to read to students:

Close your eyes and imagine it’s a few days before you
are out of school for summer break. You and your
classmates find you are locked in your school library by
Mr. Lemoncello, your school librarian. Mr. Lemoncello
has locked you into the library because he doesn’t want
you to stop reading over the summer. You will need to
find clues and solve puzzles to escape. Follow the
instructions and use your problem solving skills and work
together to search the library for clues. The clues will
lead to unlocking the 5 locks on a box holding the keys to
the library.
(They can open their eyes: “Only share answers and clues
with your teammates being careful not to ruin the fun for
other groups.”)
Supplies Needed:
(More information about the supplies is listed in the resources following this list.)

 Starting Letter
 Boxes needed: Main Box, Small Box, 3 Digit Built-in Lock Box (or
another small box with another 3 digit padlock)
 Hasp
 Locks Needed: 5 Letter Word Lock, 4 Digit Number Lock, 3 Digit
Number Lock, Directional Lock, Key Lock
 Prizes
 Large Paper Key that states “Reading is the KEY to success!”
 UV Flashlight/ Batteries
 UV Ink Pen
 4 Pictograms
 Cipher Wheel
 Cipher Wheel Worksheet (handwrite in “T” over first line)
 Pictogram Puzzle Worksheet
 6 Overdue slips (one should have call #027 highlighted and note
handwritten on it, see below)
 Paper with Random Numbers
 Distractors (listed below)
 3 Hint Cards
 Timer
OUT IN SIGHT
1. Starting Letter saying they have been locked in the library and have 30 minutes to find
clues and solve puzzles to escape.
a. On the bottom of the letter in very tiny print “Find a place to enter 811 to find a
useful item”.
2. Main Lock Box on table: put large paper key that states “Reading is the KEY to success!”
and prizes inside.
3. Use hasp on main box
a. 5 letter word lock (SPELL)
b. Keylock
c. directional lock (U,R,U,L)
d. 4 digit number lock (5276). .
4. Put 4 pictograms on wall or table.
5. Put the magnifying glass on shelves.
6. 6 Overdue slips on table.
7. Put 3 hint cards on table.
8. Put the following around the room as distractors: calculator, paper and pencils, random
nonfiction books, easy jigsaw puzzle with the saying “A library doesn’t need windows.
We have books, which are windows into worlds we never even dreamed possible.” -Mr.
Lemoncello

IN SMALL BOX (hidden in poetry section)

1. UV flashlight (no batteries)
2. Pictogram Puzzle Worksheet
3. lock with the 3 digit number lock (811, found on starting note).

IN 3 DIGIT BUILT-IN LOCK BOX (hidden in room)

1. Batteries for flashlight
2. Cipher Wheel
3. Combination is 027 (found on overdue slips)

HIDDEN IN ROOM
1. Hide keys to key lock somewhere in library.
2. Put a piece of paper with random numbers on it under the table. Highlight with UV ink
4 of the numbers with the combination for the 4 digit lock. Also, write order of
combination by the number. (5276)
3. In B is for Bookworm book put the Cipher Wheel Worksheet and put back on shelf
where it belongs (call # 027). Make sure to put the letter “T” over first line so students
know cipher code.
Basic game play: (or use the following YouTube video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoXLWZMwORA )

1. Students read the letter and discover small print at the bottom.
2. Students will look around the room for items and should discover magnifying glass.
3. Students will use the magnifying glass to read small print which will lead them to look
for the small box.
4. Students will find small lock box and enter 8-1-1 to open it. They will find the UV
flashlight (no batteries) and the pictogram puzzle worksheet inside.
5. The students will notice the random pictograms on the wall/table and realize it matches
the worksheet found in the small box. Once they solve all the pictograms and the
worksheet, they will realize that it contains directions to use on the directional lock (U,
R, U, L), they must figure out that they need to draw the arrows on the worksheet and
that they cannot go diagonally. When they only move up, down, right, or left and don’t
use a pictogram more than once then they will find the path to solve the worksheet and
open the directional lock.
6. Students will also find overdue slips on table, the book B is for Bookworm overdue slip
will have a handwritten note on it that says, “student says it was returned, look on
shelf”. It will also have the call number 027 highlighted. Students will have to find the
place where this book would be shelved and get the book which will have the cipher
wheel worksheet inside. They will also have to realize that the 027 is the code for the 3
digit built-in lock box.
7. Solving the overdue slips clue will lead them to the 3 digit built-in lock box which will
open with combination 027 and will contain the batteries and the cipher wheel
8. When they turn on UV flashlight, they will have to realize it is a black light and start
searching for clues that glow.
9. Once they discover the random numbers paper from under the table and that it has a
secret code on it, they will solve this and enter the code into the 4 digit lock (5276).
10. With the cipher wheel students will figure out the code that opens the 5 letter word lock
(SPELL)
11. Students will have to search the room for the key to the key lock.
12. This will get them into the main lock box for their prizes.
Dear Students,
I have locked you into the library because I
don’t want you to stop reading! If you want to
escape you will need to find the clues and solve
my puzzles. The only way you can do this is to
WORK TOGETHER! Search the library for clues
and other items that will help you unlock the
locks on the box. Using all your knowledge
solve the puzzles using other items in the room.
In the box you will find the key to breaking out
of the library and maybe a prize! You better
start fast as you only have 30 minutes!
Mr. Lemoncello

Find a place to enter the code 811 to find a useful item.

OVERDUE NOTICE

Student Name: Kyle Keeley

The following item(s) are overdue. Please return as soon as possible.

Call Number Title Barcode Due Date

027 PRI B is for Bookworm T 70606 10/22/14

OVERDUE NOTICE

Student Name: Charles Chiltington

The following item(s) are overdue. Please return as soon as possible.

Call Number Title Barcode Due Date

629.22 DON 4x4s and Pickups T 84529 10/6/14

OVERDUE NOTICE

Student Name: Miguel Fernandez

The following item(s) are overdue. Please return as soon as possible.

Call Number Title Barcode Due Date

636 BUL Cats T 75149 10/8/14
OVERDUE NOTICE

Student Name: Sierra Russell

The following item(s) are overdue. Please return as soon as possible.

Call Number Title Barcode Due Date

567.9 SMI Dinosaurs T 52103 9/5/14

OVERDUE NOTICE

Student Name: Akimi Hughes

The following item(s) are overdue. Please return as soon as possible.

Call Number Title Barcode Due Date

E WAT Scaredy Squirrel T 14523 12/6/14

OVERDUE NOTICE

Student Name: Andrew Peckelman

The following item(s) are overdue. Please return as soon as possible.

Call Number Title Barcode Due Date

625.1 SAL Trains T 25563 12/10/14
HINT: Notice the DIRECTION you are moving

TEE BOOKS YEAR

EYEBALL BEACHBALL TREE

LOOKS HOOKS EARLY

START HERE * EAR THREE

SECRET CODE

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
4 18 15 13 25 14 15 9 25 5
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
3 15 15 21 19 3

___ ___ ___ ___ ___!

3 26 15 22 22

SECRET CODE

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
4 18 15 13 25 14 15 9 25 5
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
3 15 15 21 19 3

___ ___ ___ ___ ___!

3 26 15 22 22
+

-H+B
Y+
(laminate and cut into puzzle pieces)

“A library doesn’t need

windows. We have
books, which are
windows into worlds
we never even
dreamed possible.”
-Mr. Lemoncello
(laminate and cut out)

READING is the
KEY to SUCCESS!
Study sheet handout for the follow-up lesson quiz:

Dewey Decimal System Name:

 Resources/References Day 1:

Teacher resources for the lesson plan are found on the above YouTube video page under links.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CB9eBowlrzdvmtScJd5i1-
uHgKdVyftGW4iTy4Vbe9U/edit

OR

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eUOc_RLXAO37JduYPiOcmogRsk0c8QQ4xX6stGOfbdA/
edit

Break out “How to” you tube video by Amy Williams Published on May 19, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoXLWZMwORA
Email Amy Williams at: [email protected]
WagnerJProjectB_Sec_1

2nd Meeting Follow-Up

Students will pick up where we left off the previous meeting.

Summary of today’s portion of the lesson: This lesson is a continuance of Escape from Mr.
Lemoncello’s Library a lesson plan by Jill Wagner. This lesson will be a review of the Dewey
Decimal system.

First, Students will watch the following video that follows on the Dewey Decimal System
categories as a refresher.
Video by Bentley Media Center
Published on Sep 21, 2015:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bV_sI8XQdI&list=PLRTvvlprliBn_-
NjZ0LhWhnyuhnurTIS4&index=3

Secondly, teams of students will compete in a game of Dewey Jeopardy review.

Dewey Jeopardy compiled by Jill Wagner; Template retrieved 2019 from Eric Curt.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/13fT01ei6OxQlTc8daLy8wNsoPHJhx-
kSdR0Awz4xw8k/edit?usp=sharing

Below you will find additional information, ideas, and reference:

Additional Assessment Opportunities:
10 Dewey Categories Assessment:
https://web.archive.org/web/20081205194759/http://library.thinkquest.org/5002/Games/dew
eytest.htm

The Fairybook Goddess:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Dewey-Decimal-Assessment-810095