5 Fun Activities to Celebrate International Dot Day in the Classroom

International Dot Day, celebrated on September 15th, is all about creativity, courage, and collaboration—inspired by Peter H. Reynolds' beloved book The Dot. If you're looking for engaging Dot Day activities to get your 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th-grade students excited about this special day, I've got you covered! 

Here are five fun and meaningful ways to bring Dot Day into your classroom.

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1. Create Your Own Dot Art

Kick off the day by encouraging your students to create their very own dot masterpieces! 

Provide them with paints, markers, crayons, and colored paper. Students can start with a simple dot and expand their creations by letting their imaginations run wild. 

This activity reinforces the idea that creativity has no limits—just like Vashti, the main character of The Dot, discovers in the story.

Bonus tip: Turn this into a collaborative project by combining individual student dots into a giant classroom display!

I love this Collaborative Dot Day Tessalation Collaborative Art Piece.  It's a FREEBIE!

2. Dot Day Word Search Puzzles

Looking for a fun way to reinforce vocabulary while celebrating Dot Day? Try this Dot Day Word Search Puzzle! Packed with 20 Dot Day-themed words like "creativity," "courage," and "canvas," this puzzle is perfect for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. It’s a great morning activity to get your students thinking, or a quiet, engaging option for fast finishers.

Grab the Dot Day Word Search here!

3. Connect the Dots with Technology

If you have access to tablets or computers in your classroom, why not incorporate some tech into your Dot Day celebrations? 

Have students use drawing apps to create digital dot art. Programs like Google Drawings or Paint allow them to experiment with colors, shapes, and patterns. 

You could even set up a virtual gallery to display their work!

Pro Tip: Use this activity to introduce simple design concepts or even coding by challenging students to create a pattern that loops or changes colors.

4. Dot Scavenger Hunt

Turn Dot Day into an active adventure with a Dot Scavenger Hunt! Hide dot-shaped cutouts or stickers around the classroom or school, and give students clues or a checklist to find them. 

Each dot can have a fun fact or inspiring message related to creativity or courage, which students can collect as they find each one.

To make it more interactive, you could assign different challenges or discussion prompts when they find specific dots!

5. Read Aloud and Reflect

Of course, no Dot Day celebration would be complete without reading The Dot. After reading, encourage students to reflect on how they can "make their mark" in their own unique way. You could have them write or draw about something they feel proud of or a goal they want to work toward. This is a great way to foster a growth mindset in your classroom while promoting self-expression.