Noah Webster and His Dictionary

Teaching Theme of the Week

from Education World®

Students use library or online sources to create time lines about Noah Webster, who compiled the first American dictionary, and the development of dictionaries.

Subjects: Language Arts, Educational Technology

Grade Levels: 6-8, 9-12

Objectives
Students will:

• define the word lexicographer,
• learn about Noah Webster, and
• sequence historical events related to the life of Noah Webster and the development of dictionaries in chronological order.

Keywords
dictionary, time line, Noah Webster, Internet, lexicographer

Materials Needed

• student-researched library materials about Noah Webster and the development of dictionaries or printouts from the online sources listed in the lesson
• dictionaries (one for every two or three students)
• paper
• pens or pencils
• computer(s) with Internet access (optional)
• PowerPoint program (optional)

Procedure

1. Have students look up the meaning of the word lexicon and the suffix grapher. Write the word lexicographer on the board. Tell students to combine the meanings of lexicon and grapher to create a definition for the word lexicographer.
    
2. Explain to students that Noah Webster was a lexicographer who compiled the first American dictionary. Tell students they will use library or Internet sources to create time lines about the life of Noah Webster and the development of dictionaries.
    
3. Organize students into two groups. Have one group create time lines about Noah Webster. Have the other group create time lines showing the historical development of dictionaries. If your students have Internet access, they might start with the sites listed below. If Internet access is not available to everyone, print the information.

• Noah Webster
• Noah Webster and America's First Dictionary
• Webster's Dictionary
• A Brief History of English Lexicography
• Dictionary Timeline (Scroll down the page to view the dictionary time line.)
• Dictionary Milestones

Assessment
Evaluate students' time lines.

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