INTERNATIONAL DOT DAY
International Dot Day on September 15th gets your creative juices flowing. Established to celebrate creativity, courage, and collaboration, the celebration is easily one of the most fun days of the year!
Celebrated by both children and adults, International Dot Day is a day to connect, collaborate, and create. It’s also a great day to foster self-expression. Participate by writing, drawing, painting, taking photos, videography, dancing, and making music. Because this day was sparked by a real-life teacher, educators throughout the world celebrate International Dot Day. They hold a variety of activities in their classrooms.
HOW TO OBSERVE #InternationalDotDay
There are many ways for you to take part in International Dot Day. If you are a teacher, read The Dot book to your classroom. Parents, read it to your children, too. Even those without children are encouraged to read the book. Check your local library for Dot Day events. If you don’t find any, help organize some!
Several Dot videos on the internet demonstrate how to celebrate, too. The Dot even has its own song you can sing. Go to the Celebri-Dots website and check out the creations of authors, illustrators, and celebrities. You can also check out the International Dot Day website.
If you haven’t colored or drawn in a while, International Dot Day is the perfect day to start up again. Write a poem. Make a video. Develop a blog or website. Take part in a creative exercise to express your thoughts and feelings. No matter what you do, be creative! Don’t forget to share #InternationalDotDay, #DotDay, or #MakeYourMark on social media.
INTERNATIONAL DOT DAY HISTORY
A book called The Dot by Peter. H. Reynolds inspired International Dot Day. The book is about a caring teacher who encourages a student named Vashti to “make her mark.” Vashti couldn’t draw, so she simply made a single dot on a piece of paper. This little dot was just the beginning of Vashti’s journey of self-discovery.
On September 15, 2009, a teacher named Terry Shay introduced his classroom to The Dot. The rest, as they say, is history. Since its first observance in 2009, the day has become a global sensation. It is currently celebrated by nearly 16 million people in 181 countries.
