Dot Day!

Last week we read Peter H. Reynolds' The Dot for the first time. I don't think my class found it too different from any of the myriad other books we've read in the first two weeks. We read it again before the week was over and then again this morning. Today I asked them about Vashti (the main character) and they talked about how she was brave in the book because she didn't think she could draw but she tried anyway. (Be brave is one of the class rules they created this year.)

So we tried to be like Vashti in a lot of ways today. We made individual dots using watercolors, markers, or colored pencils. Or even all three!

We made our mark on our white board in the hallway (and invited the class across the hall to do so as well).

We created a dot all together. I covered a round table with white paper and we rolled paint on it. Honestly, I had hoped we would cover even more of the white space but it looks pretty nifty as is.

We used FableVision's Big Screen Books to put pictures from The Dot in the correct order. The final time we did, when the whole class was involved, there was much cheering at the end of it.

We made pictures by stamping dots with pencil erasers.

We tie-dyed dots (drew on fabric with permanent markers and then dripped rubbing alcohol on it to bleed the colors).

By the end of the day we had made dots, made our mark, been creative, and taken risks. As an added bonus, we grew more as a community as well.

When we gathered on the carpet for dismissal I asked the students how they had been like Vashti today. Some gave the expected answer that they had made dots like she made dots. Others said they had been brave because they had tried things that were hard for them - with specific examples, no less.

It was a beautiful Dot Day and the beauty from it will continue to shine on display around our classroom. I love it!