International Dot Day 2020 Activity: The Dots for Doors Project
Inspired by Amanda Overholt of Exeter, Ontario community-wide scavenger hunts, we are excited to share the Dots for Doors project. In this blog post, Amanda shares a bit about how this project evolved and ideas on how to get your community involved. Read more about her Rose’s Garden Scavenger Hunt.
”Our fourth community scavenger hunt was “Dot Day” themed and inspired by Peter Reynolds’s story, “The Dot.”
Community members were encouraged to use their imagination, like Vashti in the story, to create and display their unique dot creations. Some community members used a variety of paint and craft materials to create dots, while others found dot items in their home that could be displayed on their door, such as game boards, scarves, and blankets. People of all ages participated and it was such a wonderful way to display everyone's creativity!”
TIPS ON HOW TO DO THIS IN YOUR COMMUNITY:
In our community, everyone was able to access all of our featured stories, including “The Dot” through our public library online resources. I would encourage you to check out your community online resources too! On our community Facebook group, everyone was encouraged to share ideas, activities, and pictures, which was so nice to see and stay connected with others. You might consider setting up your own community group online for your community! I also created a scavenger hunt activity for each theme, which was a fun, easy, and educational way to count all of the participating houses. Don´t forget to try contacting your local newspaper to showcase your dot event and share some of the dot displays around town!
WHY IS THIS PROJECT IMPORTANT?
This particular project encouraged children to explore books and read, which is so valuable. By creating their own dot masterpieces, children were able to express their creativity and perhaps experience self-reflection, perseverance, and growth mindset, similar to the main character Vashti in “The Dot.” This type of activity brought our feature book to life!
A sense of community and belonging is needed now more than ever before. Seeing the joy and smiles this project brought to our community during such uncertain times was uplifting. The most important thing to remember is that you are never alone. We are better together!
Share Your Celebration: On September 15-ish, students, teachers, schools, and communities will celebrate International Dot Day. A celebration of creativity, courage, and compassion, Dot Day encourages everyone to #MakeYourMark. Ready to join in on the International Dot Day 2020 Celebration! Share your story with us! Let us know you are celebrating and download the new handbook: Register at The Dot Club. Share your mark across social media with #MakeYourMark and #InternationalDotDay. Stay connected on Twitter @DotClubConnect, Instagram and Facebook!