Dot Day

This project was introduced by reading The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, which was a great way to introduce simple art to young students while also integrating English Language Arts into the lesson. We were each given a coffee filter and creative freedom to design our own dot using different mediums such as crayons, watercolor paint, paint crayons, and oil pastels. For my design, I wrote my name in the center using a white crayon, then used different warm colors to create a design around the coffee filter and painted over the entire filter with watercolor. The resist effect from the crayons and pastels created interesting areas where the paint would not stick and a pretty blending pattern. 

An extension activity for this lesson could have students create a second dot that represents something important about themselves, such as a hobby, favorite place, or future goal. Students would first sketch their idea, then use crayons, oil pastels, and watercolor to complete their design using the resist technique. After finishing, students could write a few sentences explaining the meaning behind their dot to further connect art with writing skills. The activity could end with a gallery walk where students share and celebrate each other’s creative work.