Dot Day STEM
Original post: September 7, 2020
Updated: September 2024
International Dot Day is celebrated yearly on September 15th to encourage creativity, courage, and collaboration inspired by Peter H. Reynolds’ book, The Dot! Have you read it? Take the beloved story to the next level by infusing STEM into your Dot Day festivities.
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Why we love this book: The main character is struggling with her self-proclaimed lack of ability in art class when her teacher shows her how valuable she views the simple mark the girl makes on her paper. While the little girl’s “dot” was an expression of her frustration and unwillingness to really try, the teacher asks her to sign it, then frames it as an outpouring of love for where the girl’s skill is at that moment. We love that this book encourages kids to not strive for perfection, but instead to embrace their potential by doing their best with the skills they currently have. In STEM, it is especially critical to help kids persevere through challenges and learn from mistakes. Try out the following activities to celebrate your students’ “dots”. Make sure you let them know how valuable their effort (not the end product) is.
1. Dot Day Augmented Reality with the Quiver App
Color the free dot day page from Quiver vision then bring it to life with your smart device and the quiver app. Go to the Quiver website and search “Dot Day” in their coloring packs. Have your students make their mark by coloring inside the circle. Point your camera at it within the app and watch it pop out of the page!
2. Dot Sticker Testing
Instead of using tape to build structures out of paper or index cards, use dot stickers to secure them. How many dots will it take to hold your structure? Estimate in the design phase before testing your hypothesis — this is Scientific Method meets Engineering Design Process. We used the dot stickers to secure columns of index cards and cardstock, then tested how much weight it would hold. Which lasts longer, the integrity of the paper or the stickers?
3. Dot Stacking
Cut out circles from cardstock or foam and cut small slits around the edges. Use the dots to connect to each other by sliding the slits together. Build a freestanding tower using only the dots! Consider having a class competition where students must compete to build the tallest tower.
4. Color Mixing Dots
Learn about color by creating dot pinwheels that blend colors when spun. This is a really fun project for lower elementary. Then challenge the kids to create a container to hold their dot pinwheel creations. Find the complete instructions with worksheets and templates for your classroom here or in the all-access STEM Space Membership library.
5. Dot Hop
Use paper plates (dots!) to do an icebreaker challenge where students must cross the classroom in teams without touching the floor. Divide your class into at least two teams of around 5 kids. Give each team one plate per student plus one extra. Students must start at one end of the room and get their whole team across to the other end by only stepping on the plates. They can pick up the plates and place them on the floor, but they cannot slide them on the floor. Communication and teamwork are critical!
6. Dot Structures
I’m honestly not a fan of Dot candy (it isn’t chocolate!) but they make great connectors for toothpick structures. Provide students with a box of Dots and toothpicks and challenge them to build towers, bridges, homes, or monuments with them. Don’t have access to Dots candy? Use mini marshmallows as dots.
7. Make Coffee Filter Dots
Decorate giant dot coffee filters with markers and either spritz them with water to watch the colors blend together, or use them as mini parachutes to slow down the descent of a toy in a mini-dixie cup.
