First Grade Activity for International Dot Day
International Dot Day, celebrated every year on September 15th, is a day that encourages creativity, courage, and collaboration across the globe. Inspired by Peter H. Reynolds' book The Dot, this special day invites everyone to embrace their creativity, no matter how small or simple the start may be.
In The Dot, a young girl named Vashti discovers her artistic potential with the simple act of making a dot on paper, which leads her to explore and grow her creativity. International Dot Day encourages children and adults alike to make their mark and see where their creativity takes them.
For first graders, International Dot Day is the perfect occasion to combine creativity with a hands-on STEM activity. This year, why not try the Coffee Filter Chromatography activity?
In this engaging experiment, students will explore the concept of chromatography—a technique used to separate different components in a mixture—by observing how different ink colors separate on a coffee filter. This activity not only ties into the themes of discovery and exploration found in The Dot but also introduces young learners to important scientific concepts in a fun and interactive way.
Materials Needed
Coffee filters
Black and purple markers
Small containers or cups
Water
Pencils
Binder clips
Science journals
Steps for the Science Investigation
Read Aloud: Start by reading The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds to the class. Use the story to spark curiosity and introduce the idea that, like Vashti’s dot, even simple things can lead to great discoveries. Then, explain the concept of chromatography and how it can reveal hidden colors within the ink.
Formulate a Hypothesis: Ask students to predict which colors they think will appear when they separate the ink from black and purple markers using chromatography. Have them record their predictions in their science journals.
Conduct the Experiment:
Have students draw a circular design on coffee filters using black and purple markers.
Fold the coffee filters into cones so that the tip will be submerged in water.
Pour a small amount of water into the containers, just enough to cover the tip of the coffee filter cone.
Place the coffee filter cone tip-down into the water and observe as the water travels up the filter, separating the colors in the ink.
Allow the water to travel until it’s about 1-2 inches from the top of the filter, then remove it and let it dry.
Analyze the Results: Once the coffee filters have dried, discuss with the students which colors appeared and compare their results with their initial predictions. Talk about why certain colors may have separated and what this reveals about the ink’s composition.
Conclusion: Reflect on the experiment as a class. Discuss how the activity helped students discover the different pigments present in the markers' ink, just as Vashti discovered her potential through exploration. Explain the concept of solubility and why some colors travel farther than others based on their chemical properties.
Simplifying Your Planning Process
The STEM Teachers Club Membership not only provides high-quality lesson plans but also offers a structured approach to implementing them. With weekly themes and suggested read-alouds, you can easily integrate STEM into your daily schedule. The detailed planning samples and customizable templates help you stay organized and ensure that your STEM activities are aligned with educational standards.
New Membership resources now include editable Canva Slides! We also host monthly STEM planning parties to help you plan your K-5 STEM lessons.
Watch the replay from our September STEM Planning Party here!
While this resource is available on Teachers Pay Teachers, the Carly and Adam STEM Teachers Club Membership offers the best value for educators. With this membership, teachers gain unlimited access to Carly and Adam's extensive library of STEM resources, including ready-to-use lesson plans, activities, and challenges like the International Dot Day STEM activity.
The membership is flexible, allowing educators to download as many resources as needed and cancel anytime without any hassle. This makes it a cost-effective solution for teachers looking to continuously inspire their students with high-quality, creative STEM activities. Don't miss out on the opportunity to enrich your classroom—join the STEM Teachers Club today and take your teaching to the next level!
*This resource can also be purchased on Teachers Pay Teachers, but the STEM Teachers Club Membership is the Best Deal.
Have more questions or need additional resources?
You can get all 500+ STEM Challenges by Carly and Adam as part of the STEM Teachers Club Membership. Save $5 on your first month using coupon Code: CarlyAndAdamBlog.
We hope you have found this blog post helpful. To stay connected with Carly and Adam's teaching tips and classroom freebies be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and subscribe to our blog!