It's International Dot Day! What does that mean?! Let me try to explain.
If you haven't read The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, I strongly recommend it! (You can also watch it here: The Dot). It is one of those children's picture books that is simple, yet inspiring, and delivers a strong message to both children and adults! That is why there are now over 1,744,529 people worldwide celebrating The Dot with us! Last year, it was even celebrated on the International Space Station! To learn more about this (and Emily and my very cool experience meeting Colonel Hadfield), go to my older blog post here: The Dot in Space.
To learn more about the origins of IDD, go here: The Dot Club.You can also check out all the famous authors, illustrators, and celebrities who have participated by checking out their dots at Celebri-dots!
Today we will start by watching The Dot on Fablevision's Big Screen Books, narrated by the one and only Peter H. Reynolds.We will also watch an author visit with Peter in which he will explain his inspiration for The Dot and how he was encouraged and inspired as a student.
After that, students will be given an opportunity to paint or draw dots (or whatever else they choose) using water colors, or crayons and markers while they have their snacks.
We will also be reading the other two books from Peter's "Create-trilogy", Ish and Sky Color, both of which deliver messages just as inspiring and special as The Dot. I only have video trailers, but they are definitely worth checking out!
Another fun activity we will do today uses a cool app for mobile devices:
http://fablevisionlearning.com/blog/2013/08/dot-day-fun-watch-your-dot-come-to-life-in-amazing-3d-in-the-colar-app/
To do this, you use this app:
Click on the picture to see a video about other coloring fun you can have with the app! *Some are paid and some are free
Here's the dot that I colored:
And HERE it is in 3D!
How cool is that?! I can't wait for the kids to see their work in 3D!
Later in the day, I will show them a cool video from Steve Spangler science that you can watch here: Sharpie Tie-dye video. Then the kids will get to work on their very special dot tee-shirts! I'll be sure to post photos!
We will also be making a collaborative dot to display and students will write about how they hope to make their mark on the world.
Today is about so much more than drawing dots. I hope by now you see that it is about inspiring students to not be fearful when trying something new, about encouraging them when they think they can't or when something doesn't come out exactly as they envisioned. It's about focusing not on what they CAN'T do, but rather on what they CAN. It's about combining language arts, science, technology, math, and art. Here's a Peter poster that I love that helps sum it up...
One last note for the moment-if you and your child would like to meet Peter, he is often at his family store, The Blue Bunny, in Dedham, MA. This Saturday, he and his twin brother, Paul, will be having a signing for a book on which they collaborated called Sydney and Simon: Full Steam Ahead. Here are the event details: book signing. I hope to see some of you there!
Oh, I almost forgot! Enjoy the new song! :)
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