Dot Day Mural Time Lapse Video

Dot Day!

Students at all levels will be celebrating Dot Week during the week of September 12th in Art Class and Library/Technology.  This special event is based on the book “The Dot,” by Peter Reynolds. It is a story that encourages artists to “just make a mark.”

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 caring teacher who dares a doubting student to trust in her own abilities by being brave enough to “make her mark”.

What begins with a small dot on a piece of paper becomes a breakthrough in confidence and courage, igniting a journey of self-discovery and sharing, which has gone on to inspire countless children and adults around the globe.

And each year on International Dot Day – with the help of people just like you –the inspiration continues. What started as a story in the pages of a book is transforming teaching and learning around the world as people of all ages re-discover the power and potential of creativity in all they do.
(From www.thedotclub.org)

We also used the Quiver app on the iPads to turn our dots three dimensional.

Mandalas by grades five and six

Dot Day!

Dot Day has come to Waitsfield School!  Each grade level will create different types of dot art, celebrating the Dot Day principles of Creativity, Courage and Collaboration.

Watch the video of Peter Reynolds' book "The Dot"

Third and fourth graders worked in groups to create giant dots!  They explored different techniques including splatter paint, color mixing and masking tape resist.  

First and Second graders painted on large paper to explore many different types and sizes of dots.  They were inspired by the dots that Vashti paints in "The Dot."

Kindergarten Dot stations:

Dot stampers, dot stickers, dot tracing 

Mandalas!

In celebration of International Dot Day, all classes will create different types of "Dot Art."  Fifth and sixth grade artists will create circular artwork called Mandalas.  

Mandalas are created in many cultures as a support for meditation.  They can be drawings or painted or made from sand.  

What is a Mandala?

The word "mandala" is from the classical Indian language of Sanskrit. Loosely translated to mean "circle," a mandala is far more than a simple shape. It represents wholeness, and can be seen as a model for the organizational structure of life itself--a cosmic diagram that reminds us of our relation to the infinite, the world that extends both beyond and within our bodies and minds.

Describing both material and non-material realities, the mandala appears in all aspects of life: the celestial circles we call earth, sun, and moon, as well as conceptual circles of friends, family, and community.

(from The Mandala Project)

Mandalas have Radial Symmetry:  the condition of having similar parts regularly arranged around a central axis 

Examples of Mandalas:

How to Grow a Mandala Video:

Video of the Dali Lama creating a Sand Mandala

Dot Day is coming to Waitsfield School!

International Dot Day is a day to celebrate CREATIVITY, COURAGE and COLLABORATION.  During the week of September 15th, all students will create artwork inspired by the message in Peter Reynolds' book The Dot:

"Make your mark and see where it takes you!" 

And Remember... On Friday, September 19th, WEAR DOTS! 

Let's see which classroom has the most Dot Day Spirit! 

The Dot by Peter Reynolds

Kindergarten artists read one of my all-time favorite art books, "The Dot," by Peter Reynolds.  The message of the book is that everyone can be an artist, you just have to believe in yourself.  In the story, the young artist starts with a simple dot on the paper and ends up with a room full of masterpieces.  You can watch a nicely done video version of this story here:

Here are our beautiful dot paintings.