"International Dot Day", a global celebration of creativity, courage and collaboration, began when teacher Terry Shay introduced his classroom to Peter H. Reynolds’ book The Dot on September 15, 2009.
"The Dot" is the story of a teacher who challenges a doubting student to trust in her abilities to “make her mark”. What begins with a dot on a piece of paper becomes a breakthrough in confidence, which has gone on to inspire countless children and adults around the globe.
To celebrate, each grade level has created a project that is "dot-like." Once projects are completed, they will be displayed in the halls of our school!
Some projects took at least 3 class periods to complete, but by the end of September, our school will be filled with dots galore!
This is just the start of the many dots to display!
Kindergarten Dot Paintings
Inspired by the artist George Seurat
Materials
-white paper (any size you wish to cut)
-paint dots (can be found in Nasco, Triarco, or Michael's Arts & Crafts in a hurry)
After showing the painting "Sunday Afternoon" by George Seurat to kindergarten students, I shared how pictures can be made just by using dots. Using "paint dots," students filled their paper with colorful spots!
Total time: 1-40 minute class period
1st Grade Mandala Paintings
(Thank you, Cassie Stephens, for your project idea!)
Materials
-small paper plates
-black permanent marker
-neon tempura cakes
-paintbrushes
-water cups
-table clothes
After sharing mandala designs with 1st grade students, we created our own mandala-like designs within a plate and painted with bright colors!
Total project time: 1-40 minute class period
2nd Grade Abstract Drawings
Inspired by the art of Wassily Kandinsky
Materials
-pencils
-white paper (cut to square)
-black markers
-colored markers
-scissors
-glue
-a round container for center circle
Students were introduced to the art of Wassily Kandinsky. Wassily used many geometric shapes and creative lines to fill his artwork. 2nd graders were asked to do the same, all while listening to music to inspire movement in their drawings!
Total project time: 2-40 minute class periods
3rd Grade Mandala Drawings
Inspired by sand-made mandalas
Materials
-white paper
-pencils
-a round container to trace circles
-black markers
-colored markers
-scissors
-glue
-square colored paper for frame
Students were introduced to sand mandalas. As nice as it would have been to actually make one with sand, we stuck with drawing our designs and adding bright colors instead.
Total project time: 2-40 minute class periods
4th Grade Metal Relief Dots
(Cassie, I thank you for this idea too! I had to try it!)
Yes, you can use coins as examples!
Materials
-cardboard or poster board circles
-foam shapes (when I order them now, they are stickers)
-aluminum foil
-spray glue
-permanent color markers
Students were shown examples of metal relief, like coins and jewelry. Relief is when you have dimension within a flat piece, which creates texture. When creating their relief, students used foam shapes for the dimension, then (once covered in foil) colored on top with patterns and designs.
Total project time: 1-40 minute class period
5th Grade Radial Symmetry
Inspired by Stained Glass Window Designs
Materials
-black paper (cut into a circle)
-foam shapes (with or without stickers)
-pencil
-colored paper for frame
Students were introduced to radial symmetry. Examples were shown of many stained glass window designs, as well as kaleidoscope patterns. Students created their own radial designs (split into four quadrants) using the foam shapes to demonstrate their understanding.
Total project time: 2-40 minute class periods
6th Grade Zentangle Patterns
While searching on Google, I came across tons of zentangle patterned circles. This was not my image, but I'm using it as an example of what I wanted my students to create. So to the original artist, you inspired us! Thank you!
Materials
-white paper circle
-pencil
-skinny black marker
-zentangle pattern packet with examples
-colored markers
-colored paper for frame
Students were shown zentangle pattern examples and where they may find patterns in the commercials they watch or the clothing they wear. Students create their own zentangle pattern circles, teaching them patience and care with overlapping patterns.
Total project time: 3-40 minute class periods. The students LOVED their work!
What did you do for International Dot Day?
This is a wonderful collection of lessons for Dot Day. I hope you don't mind but I posted a link back to this lesson on my own blog, Art Sub Lessons. Jan https://artsublessons.blogspot.com/2017/07/back-to-school-art-sub-plans-dot-day.html
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