The Dot Imagineerz Learning

SEL Read Aloud: The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

Summary

In “The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds, Vashti overcomes her belief that she can’t draw with encouragement from her art teacher, who suggests she start with a single dot. Surprised to see her dot framed in class the next day, Vashti is inspired to explore her creativity further, experimenting with colors and patterns. Her newfound confidence leads to her artwork being showcased at the school’s art show, where she inspires a young boy with doubts about his own abilities. Through Vashti’s journey, she discovers her artistic voice and learns the power of inspiring others to embrace their creativity and unique talents.

Comprehension Questions

Six questions aligned to Bloom’s taxonomy for teacher’s to evaluate students’ comprehension

Remembering: Can you recall how Vashti feels about her drawing abilities at the beginning of the story?
Understanding: Why does Vashti feel frustrated when faced with a blank sheet of paper?
Applying: How would you describe Vashti’s dot at the beginning of the story? How does it change and evolve later?
Analyzing: Why do you think Vashti’s art teacher asked her to start with a simple dot?
Evaluating: How did Vashti’s artwork impact the young boy who admired her dot at the art show? Why was he inspired?
Creating: Can you create your own artwork inspired by Vashti’s journey in the story? How would you represent your own growth and self-expression?

CASEL Discussion Questions

Five questions aligned to the CASEL competencies for teachers to foster an engaging discussion and foster social-emotional learning

Self-Awareness: Can you think of a time when you felt frustrated or doubted your own abilities? How did you overcome those feelings?
Self-Management: What strategies does Vashti’s art teacher use to help her manage her frustration and self-doubt?
Social Awareness: How does Vashti’s art teacher create a supportive and encouraging environment for her students? Can you think of other ways to support and uplift others in their creative pursuits?
Relationship Skills: How does Vashti’s journey demonstrate the importance of sharing and celebrating each other’s talents and accomplishments?
Responsible Decision Making: How can embracing mistakes and taking risks, like Vashti does in her art, contribute to personal growth and learning?

Design Thinking Challenge

Take students’ learning even further by incorporating the Imagineerz design thinking framework

Design and create a collaborative mural that celebrates individuality and self-expression.

Understand

Engage students in a discussion about the importance of self-expression and individuality, drawing on the themes of “The Dot.” Encourage them to share their thoughts and experiences related to self-expression.

Ideate

Brainstorm ideas for a collaborative mural that represents their individuality and celebrates diversity. Discuss what elements, symbols, and colors could be incorporated into the mural to convey these concepts.
Generate multiple ideas for the design of the mural. Encourage students to think creatively and consider different materials, techniques, and visual elements they could use to bring their ideas to life.

Prototype

Divide the class into groups and assign each group a section of the mural. Provide art supplies for students to create prototypes of their design ideas on a smaller scale.
Experiment with different designs, colors, and textures to refine their ideas. Gather feedback from peers and make adjustments based on the input received.

Test

Create the final mural by transferring the refined designs onto a larger canvas or wall. Ensure that all the sections come together cohesively to form a unified mural that represents the diverse and unique qualities of each student.
Share the final mural with the class and reflect on the process. Discuss how the mural celebrates individuality and self-expression, and how it reflects the themes of “The Dot.”

Read Aloud

If you appreciated getting to read this book with your class, you might also want to share this book with them!