Dot Day activities for the classroom are a fantastic way to inspire creativity, courage, and collaboration in your students.
Inspired by Peter H. Reynolds’ beloved book The Dot, International Dot Day is celebrated on September 15th-ish and encourages children to “make their mark” in the world through art, writing, STEM, and community projects.
Whether you teach Kindergarten, Year 1, Year 2, or Year 3, these activities will spark imaginations and help your students see the power of a single dot.
1. Create a Dot Art Gallery
Invite students to create their own unique dot artwork using paint, markers, crayons, or even found objects like buttons and stickers.
Display the finished pieces around your classroom or hallway to create a vibrant Dot Art Gallery that showcases individuality and creativity.
2. Build a Dot Day Collaborative Mural
Cover a bulletin board or large sheet of paper and ask each student to contribute one or more dots.
This collaborative mural symbolises unity and the idea that every small contribution matters — just like in The Dot.
For more ideas that encourage perseverance and collaboration, explore my Spiro craft activity for CBCA Book Week 2025.
3. Dot-Inspired Story Writing
Encourage students to write imaginative stories inspired by dots. They might:
- Create dot-shaped characters
- Imagine dot-based adventures
- Explore the theme of “making your mark” like Vashti in The Dot
Provide dot stickers or stamps as prompts. This is a great Dot Day literacy activity for combining art and writing.
If your students enjoy writing about persistence, you might like my Teaching The Wobbly Bike activities, which focuses on resilience and determination.
4. Try Dot Day STEM Challenges
Add STEM to your Dot Day lesson plans with fun challenges such as:
- Building dot structures from marshmallows and toothpicks
- Designing dot patterns with coding tools like Scratch or Tynker
These activities develop creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
5. Share Dot-Themed Read-Alouds
Pair your celebration with picture books that encourage creativity and resilience.
In addition to The Dot, try:
- Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg
- Ish by Peter H. Reynolds
These stories spark discussions about embracing imperfections and the creative process.
These stories spark discussions about embracing imperfections and the creative process.
For another book that celebrates courage and making a difference, see my National Simultaneous Storytime 2023 classroom activities.
6. Organise a Dot Day Community Project
Take your celebration beyond the classroom with a community project, such as:
- Displaying dot art at a local library or senior centre
- Hosting a “make your mark” cleanup event in your school grounds or neighbourhood
This helps students see how small actions can make a big difference.
Why Dot Day Activities Matter
Dot Day activities for the classroom are about more than drawing circles — they’re about empowering students to believe in their potential.
Through creativity, collaboration, and self-expression, students learn that even the smallest mark can leave a lasting impact.
Make Dot Day Easy to Plan
Want ready-to-go resources? My Dot Day Classroom Activity Pack includes printables, templates, and creative prompts so you can celebrate without extra prep.
👉 Click here to get the Dot Day resource
Visit Little Learner Hub to find more great teaching resources!