• colorful words
• angry words
• biographical
• scientific
• historical
• television shows
• fictional characters
• creative (make up your own words and definitions)
• hobby
• diseases
• unusual words
• sounds
• animals
• plants
• favorite foods

1. Length Each dictionary must have at least 25 words that fit into the topic you have selected.

2. Sources: You may find these words in:

• reference books
• books on the subject you choose
• regular dictionary
• with permission, the Internet

3. Contents: Each dictionary entry must have:

• Word (correctly spelled)
• Pronunciation, divided into syllables
• part of speech
• More than one definition whenever possible

4. Interesting Additions:

• Your dictionary should have illustrations of at least two entries.
• Show inflected forms of your words (ed, ing, s, es, etc.)
• Use and entry word in a sentence
• Provide synonyms and antonyms

5. Bind and Share:

• Your dictionary needs to be bound with a heavy cover. You may wish to customize it with illustrations, use special cover paper or fabric, etc.
• Your dictionary will be on displaying at the JSD EL Project Fair on Saturday, May 12th.

We will be using the school computers in April - May to compile our personal dictionaries. All dictionaries are due May 11th.

Useful Internet Sites:

• General Research:
  • Google (General web searching)
  • www.dictionary.com (a great online dictionary)
  • Oxford Dictionary (on the Dock of school computers)

Excel List Template

• Here is an Excel template for starting your dictionary.
  • Once you download the template, you will need to save it in your student area. Save it using your name and dictionary topic in the title. For example, "sheryl_bassoon_dictionary".
  • I highly recommend using the form as you enter data. To do that, on the menu bar at the top of the screen, click on "data", then on the drop-down menu, click on "form". Fill out as much information as you have for your entry.
  • Click on "new" when you are ready to start a new entry (word).
  • Notes:
    • It may be most efficient to hand write special characters in your written pronunciation of each word. You can add any characters not on your keyboard to your final document, but be sure to leave room, if needed.
    • If you are including a sentence using the word, list that in the same cell as the definition (after the definition)

Word Merge Document

• Here is a Word merge document you can use to help convert your Excel list to a Word document.
  • You will need to open <Tools> <Data Merge Manager> if it is not already open.
  • You will need to select YOUR Excel List as the data source. In the Data Merge Manager, select "Get Data", and then navigate to YOUR Excel List
  • Make any style changes you need for your dictionary.
  • Click on Merge --> Merge to new document
  • Save your new dictionary "NameTopicDictionary.doc"
  • You now have all your information formated into a Word document that you can further add to (illustrations, etc.)
  • Note: If you are creating your own merge document, rather than using this template, remember to sort the words in ABC order in your merge. In the "Main Document" section, select "Catalogue"

Book Binding

• Your teacher will help you bind your dictionary, if it is otherwise ready to be bound and finished on time.