Fun and interactive ways to incorporate The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds into your ESL lessons

 

Dot Day, also known as International Dot Day, is celebrated annually on September 15th-ish. The "ish" is used to emphasize that the celebration can occur on or around that date, allowing for flexibility in scheduling. Dot Day was inspired by the book "The Dot" written by Peter H. Reynolds, which tells the story of a girl named Vashti who learns to embrace her creativity and self-expression through a simple dot.

Dot Day is celebrated in schools and communities around the world, with the main purpose of encouraging creativity, collaboration, and self-confidence. The book's message, that anyone can be an artist and that taking that first step to create can lead to wonderful things, resonates with people of all ages. 

Here are a few reasons why Dot Day is celebrated:

Promoting Creativity: Dot Day encourages individuals to embrace their creative side, regardless of their age or artistic ability. The idea of starting with a single dot and seeing where it can lead serves as a metaphor for the creative process itself.


Fostering Self-Expression: The story of Vashti and her journey to find her own unique artistic voice resonates with people who might be struggling to express themselves. Dot Day provides a platform for individuals to share their own stories and ideas.


Building Confidence: Creating something from nothing can be intimidating, especially for those who doubt their abilities. Dot Day empowers people to take that first step and realize that their efforts are valuable and meaningful.


Promoting Positive Learning Environments: Dot Day celebrations often take place in schools and classrooms. It's a way to kick off the school year with a positive message, encouraging students to be open-minded and willing to explore new things.


Global Connection: Dot Day has become a worldwide movement, connecting people from different cultures and backgrounds through a shared creative experience. Teachers and students often connect with others around the world to share their dot-themed creations.


Embracing Diversity: The dot serves as a symbol of unity while celebrating diversity. Each dot is unique, just as each individual's creative expression is unique.

Dot Day activities can include creating dot-themed artwork, engaging in creative writing, sharing personal stories, and collaborating on artistic projects. It's a day that celebrates the idea that a small, simple act of creativity can have a big impact, and it encourages people to find their own dots of inspiration and share them with the world.

Teaching "The Dot" by Peter H. Reynolds in an ESL classroom can be a fun and engaging way to help students improve their language skills while exploring important themes. Here are some ideas to consider:


1-Pre-Reading Activities:

Vocabulary Introduction:

Introduce key vocabulary words from the book, such as "dot," "create," "art," and "inspire." You can use flashcards, pictures, or even act out the words to make them memorable.

Predictions: Show students the cover of the book and ask them to make predictions about the story based on the title and the illustration. Encourage them to share their thoughts in English.

2-Reading the Book:Read Aloud: 

Read the book aloud to the students. Pause at certain points to discuss the story, characters, and feelings. Make sure to read slowly and clearly, allowing students to follow along in their own copies.

3-Post-Reading Activities:

Retelling: Have students work in pairs or small groups to retell the story in their own words. This will help them practice storytelling and summarizing skills.

Character Emotions: Discuss how Vashti, the main character, feels at different points in the story. Use emotion words to describe her feelings and encourage students to share how they would feel in similar situations.

Sequencing: 

Provide students with a set of pictures representing key events in the story. Have them work in pairs or groups to put the pictures in the correct order, practicing their sequencing skills.

Discussion Questions: Ask open-ended questions about the story, such as "Why do you think Vashti didn't believe she could draw at first?" or "How did Vashti's attitude change throughout the story?" Encourage students to express their thoughts in English.

Art and Creativity:Dot Art: After reading the book, have students create their own dot art inspired by Vashti's journey. Provide them with various art supplies and encourage them to experiment with different dot patterns and colors. They can describe their artwork in English.

Inspiration Cards: Ask students to think about something they were initially hesitant to try, but later succeeded in. Have them create "inspiration cards" with a short description of their experience and a picture. This ties into the theme of the book and provides an opportunity for personal expression in English.

Language Development:Descriptive Writing: Have students describe Vashti's transformation using adjectives, adverbs, and sensory details. For example, they can write sentences like "Vashti's confidence grew as she carefully connected each colorful dot."

Comparative Language: Encourage students to compare themselves to Vashti or to someone they know who overcame challenges. They can use comparative language such as "Just like Vashti, I also felt unsure when..."

Performance and Presentation:Dramatic Reading: Assign different roles to students and have them perform a dramatic reading of key scenes from the book. This can help improve pronunciation, intonation, and expression.

Presentation: Have students present their dot art and inspiration cards to the class, explaining the story behind their creations. This will give them practice in public speaking and sharing personal stories in English.

Remember to adapt these activities to the language proficiency level of your ESL students and provide scaffolding as needed. The goal is to create a supportive and enjoyable learning environment where students can engage with the story and practice using English in meaningful ways.