#DotDay15- Collaborative Dot

There is going to be more than just this post on International Dot Day on this blog... but I thought I would get this one out to you in case you wanted to make this easy dot on Sept. 15th.  As an Elementary Art teacher, I'm on a six-day rotation with each class.  This means that I will have 6 first days, 5 classes a day, Kindergarten through 5th grade.   I still have two more 1st days to look forward to.  I always start out with something simple, collaborative, something to get them in the room and get the feel of the space and expectations. I was inspired by a post I saw on Facebook from Charlene Lear.  I pulled it off FB and placed it in my Dot Day Pin board right away. 

What a great idea!  It was perfect for my first-day project.  Each class, 1st grade through 5th grade has come into the art room to have the book The Dot read to them.  We talk about the Growth Mindset shown in this wonderful book. I explain that there is an International Dot Day and that we are going to participate in it by making a dot in Art class.  They are expecting something to do with the dot because all the specialist have based their lessons on this wonderful book to welcome the kids into school this year (more to come on that later).  The hints I give them is simple, you will be making a dot, it can be an organized dot, or more individually planned.  The dot should be colored to the edges of the worksheet and should have the inside of the dot a different color/pattern than the outside of the dot.  Because it's day one I am only letting them use crayons as a medium.

25 minutes has been enough work time to complete the work.  I explain that they only have the 25, it must be completed by the end of class.  If they are done early, I would encourage them to "ask three before they ask me" if there are ways to improve the coloring.  Are there any white spots?  Is there something I could add to improve this artwork?  When the 25 minutes is up, the students simply fold back the name on the line... and place their works together.  I have been taping them for a larger display later.

The class has enjoyed either hanging up the work or doing a gallery walk to check out the work in the classroom.

So to make this easy for you, I have made a worksheet and put it on Teachers Pay Teachers.  This is officially my FIRST thing I have ever posted on the site.  I have it for free and there are two versions.  I have one that is the full 8 1/2 by 11 inches, and the other has 4 to a page.  Cut it into 4ths and the cute little dots that your students will make will impress you.  Click here for the single dot sheet and here for the 4pack sheet. They are both FREE!!  This could be a great be a great sub lesson if you don't use it for dot day this year.