International Dot Day

September 15^th marks International Dot Day. An international festivity to celebrate the imaginative spark within us all.

It all started over 10 years ago on September 15, 2009, when teacher Terry Shay introduced his students to Robert H. Reynold’s book The Dot.

                     Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay

Book Blurb:

Her teacher smiled. "Just make a mark and see where it takes you." Art class is over, but Vashti is sitting glued to her chair in front of a blank piece of paper.

The words of her teacher are a gentle invitation to express herself. But Vashti can’t draw - she’s no artist. To prove her point, Vashti jabs at a blank sheet of paper to make an unremarkable and angry mark. "There!" she says.

That one little dot marks the beginning of Vashti’s journey of surprise and self-discovery. That special moment is the core of Peter H. Reynolds’s delicate fable about the creative spirit in all of us.

To be brave and take a chance on herself, Vashti needed encouragement. She was given a nudge by her teacher to discover her own creative spark.

Celebrate International Dot Day with your children by trying out these dotty activities!

List of Dot Essentials:

Q-tips

Paint Dotters

Hole Punchers

Doilies

Circle tracers

Markers

Paint

Watercolors

Scissors

Buttons

Toilet Paper Rolls

Circle Labeling Stickers

                                           Image by Andrés Carlo from Pixabay
 

 Dot Day Activities:

*This activity is easy - just use Q-tips to paint. Equip your students with Q-tips, paint, and paper. Invite them to make dots with the Q-tips or paint any type of picture they choose.

*Students can either recreate Vashti's paintings or create their own using watercolors.

*Paint dots- Children can simply use the dotters to watch the circles appear or make their own style of pictures with them.

              Image by Prashant Sharma from Pixabay

*Make a dot mural- Gather all your dot making items and let your kiddos collaborate.

*Circle collage- Students cut and trace circles and make a collage with them.

*Go on a Dot Hunt- Search for polka dots, pictures of ladybugs, dice, circles around the classroom or school building, chocolate chip cookies, dalmatians, leopards, hyenas, and more!

*Watch this video about International Dot Day!

                                                                         Image by GSLCMedia from Pixabay

Resources:

https://www.fablevisionlearning.com/blog/dotday/2021

https://www.themerrillsedu.com/blog-1/2021/9/5/international-dot-day-activities

                       Image by austinthaijam from Pixabay

When all the art is done have an art show to honor all the creativity. How will you and your kiddos celebrate International Dot Day?