Dictionary Days

The Tunkhannock Club’s participation in the Dictionary Project was started by Rotarian Don Sick (deceased) approximately 14 years ago (2002). Tunkhannock Rotarians distributed dictionaries to third grade students at the four elementary schools (Mill City, Evans Falls, Roslund and Mehoopany) in the Tunkhannock Area School District.

 

The Club has purchased and distributed over 3,377 dictionaries to third graders over this period. Since the beginning of the Dictionary Program, Rotary clubs have handed out over 19 million dictionaries.

Even in this age of technology, the third graders are always excited to receive their own dictionaries. The Rotarians are always gratified by the enthusiasm of the children and amazed when they ask “do you mean this is now my book and I can take this home and keep it forever and ever?”

Their teachers plan games and activities that encourage the students to use them, like having them find the longest word and try to pronounce it. The dictionaries are more than a traditional dictionary. They contain information on: weights and measures, science elements, sign language, the world, the states, the presidents, the planets and much more. The dictionaries help the students complete the school year as better writers, active readers and creative thinkers.