@The Arts Unit Creative Classes

The Dot

Create artworks inspired by the book 'The Dot'

Student visual arts resource developed by The Arts Unit

Preschool and Kindergarten visual arts resource

What will I learn?

You will:

  • listen to the story 'The Dot' by Peter H Reynolds

  • create artworks of real and imagined things inspired by the story

  • sing a song with simple actions.

Before you begin

You will need:

  • a device to watch the videos (for example, an interactive whiteboard, a computer or a tablet)

  • a clear space for artmaking

  • watercolour paints or paints of your choice. You could also use textas, pencils or crayons if you don't have paints

  • paintbrush, water and art shirt (to protect clothes).

  1. Listen

Watch and listen to the story 'The Dot' by Peter H Reynolds.

The Dot

Duration: 03:45

2. Create

Are you ready to be brave and creative just like Vashti?

Put your art shirt on and gather your art paper, paints and paintbrush!

Use the words from the story book ‘Just make a mark and see where it takes you’ as inspiration for your artwork.

Start by making some dots on the paper.

Artwork example - red dots scattered on a page in different sizes.

Create more dots, experimenting with different sizes and colours.

Artwork example - red, purple and blue dots scattered on a page.

Watch your artwork grow. Don't forget to sign your artwork!

Artwork example - red, blue, purple, yellow and green dots scattered on a page.

Explore your creativity further to see what you can create from a single dot!

Here is an example to get you started:

Artwork example - 3 yellow dots on a page.
Artwork example - 3 yellow dots changed into 2 flowers with yellow centres and a yellow sun.

In the story, Vashti experiments with her artwork and tries to make a dot by not painting a dot.

Can you do this? Give it a try!

To do this, try painting around your imagined dot, leaving the middle blank.

Circle of coloured dots with a blank circle in the middle

3. Inspire

Look at all these beautiful artworks from Kindergarten students across NSW public schools as part of the Operation Art project.

Each of these could have started with a single dot.

All things bright

Ekam Jagdev – KindergartenKellyville Public SchoolOperation Art 2019
Student artwork - 5 birds created from coloured dots. The dots become the bird's body and long stick legs, wings, an eye and a beak are added.

My family

Olivia Farnsworth Cootamundra Public SchoolOperation Art 2019
Student artwork - drawing of family of 4, each has a circle dot for a face.

Catch a star

Mia Gallagher – Kindergarten Oatlands Public SchoolOperation Art 2019
Student artwork - painting of white moons and yellow stars with a rocket ship. There are many white moons made by spinning around a paintbrush on one spot.

The dot

Harshal KaurCaddies Creek Public SchoolOperation Art 2018
Student artwork - large dot painted with watercolours in multicolour.

My magical car

Iona StaceyBilgola Plateau Public SchoolOperation Art 2017
Student artwork - drawing of car with colourful painted background, including blue dots.

My fish

Sienna BillingsRopes Crossing Public SchoolOperation Art 2019
Student artwork - a red and pink fish with a blue bubble dot background.

Fireworks

Zoe SharpeMilperra Public SchoolOperation Art 2016
Student artwork - drawing of firework bursts on a blue background.

Monster

Olivia YatesSamuel Gilbert Public SchoolOperation Art 2018
Student artwork - watercolour painting of pink monster with dots of different colours..

Wildflowers

Samuel ShawOberon Public SchoolOperation Art 2018
Student artwork - painting of wildflowers created from layering dots.

Create your own dot-inspired artwork, this time using your imagination. You can be as creative as you like.

Remember to start with a dot!

We can't wait to see what it will be.

Make sure you display it proudly for all to see!

4. Extension

Watch this video to see how this Year 1 class created their 'dot' artworks on an iPad.

Perhaps with the help of your teacher, you and your class might like to do this too.

You could share your dot gallery with the rest of your school.


iPad Artwork inspired by Peter Reynolds' 'The Dot'

Duration: 02:01

5. Sing

Watch this video of 'The Dot Song' inspired by the book.

Have some fun and join in the actions!

The Dot Song motions guide – Emily Arrow and Peter H Reynolds

Duration: 02:32

6. Enjoy

Watch Oscar the little snail with big dreams performed by the Year 1 and 2 students of Bonnyrigg Public School.

Oscar is a little snail that has big dreams. He tries his best and doesn’t give up.

Oscar the little snail with big dreams

Bonnyrigg Public SchoolDuration: 05:01

How the birds got their colours

Emily GasperAbbotsford Public SchoolOperation Art 2017
Student artwork - painting of a bird on a tree branch.

Can you think of a time when you found something hard to do?

It might have been learning to ride your scooter or bike or maybe it was learning to write your name or tie your shoelaces.

What did you do to learn how to do this?

Perhaps you can draw a picture and tell your class about how you learnt your hard skill.

Did you try your best and not give up?

Wow, that's great. You are just like Vashti and Oscar the snail!

Congratulations!

You have completed this

@The Arts Unit Creative Class.

The Sun in our universe

Maddison McCann Zig Zag Public School Nagoya Art Exchange
Student artwork - orange and red sun painting, made with a large dot in the centre

I'd hate to burst your bubble

Kyle PearsonEmpire Vale Public SchoolNagoya Art Exchange
Student artwork - painting of colourful bubbles on a black background.

You might like to explore more of our @The Arts Unit Creative Classes:







The Dot - Preschool and Kindergarten visual arts
Be a friend - K-2 dance, drama and visual arts

Third-party content attributions

  • Operation Art student artworks from The Arts Unit media library, reproduced and communicated with permission.

  • Nagoya Art Exchange student artwork from The Arts Unit media library, reproduced and communicated with permission.