My students continue to celebrate International Dot Day. A group of 2nd-4th graders presented Peter Reynolds’ book The Dot to a kindergarten class. We gave each of them a coffee filter. They placed the filter on a sheet of art paper. They colored the filter with markers. Then my students sprayed the filters. (2-3 squirts only! We learned quickly that too many squirts made a very soggy dot.) Another thing we learned was that most kindergarten kids can sign their own name and are very proud to do so.
Back in class with some of my older students, we wrote a collaborative poem around the line, “Make a mark and see where it takes you.” Combining the efforts of all of my various groups of children, I created this Animoto video.
Another book in Peter Reynolds’ Creatrilogy is Ish. Third grader Tobie read Dot and Ish and drew this dot on the board. I thought it was really clever.
Invisiblish dot by Tobie
Tabatha has the Poetry Friday Roundup today. Hop on over to her site: The Opposite of Indifference.
Reflections on the Teche 
Catherine – I love the empowerment Dot Day gives kids. It’s such an easy first step to creating something of their own and be proud of it. The video told it all!
What an inspirational teacher you are to these children! A great project with a terrific result. I bet you’re as proud as they are.
This video clip is great. I agree with Michelle, it must be such a lively and inspiring class! đŸ™‚
What a great project and video! I love that you had older kids team up with Kindergarteners. I’ve been so overwhelmed by all the paperwork “stuff” that swamps us at the beginning of the year that I didn’t get my act together for Dot Day. Next year!
Mine was very last minute, but I found two cooperative K teachers, all too happy to let us take over for 30 minutes. The kids loved it so much they want to do it every month. Good deal for everyone!