Kindergarten Activity for International Dot Day
International Dot Day, celebrated annually on September 15th, is a global event that encourages creativity, courage, and collaboration. Inspired by Peter H. Reynolds' book The Dot, this day is about making your mark and seeing where it takes you.
In The Dot, a young girl named Vashti discovers her artistic potential when her teacher encourages her to make a simple dot on paper. From that single dot, a journey of creativity and self-expression unfolds. International Dot Day invites everyone to embrace their creativity and share it with the world.
For kindergarteners, International Dot Day is a perfect opportunity to combine creativity with hands-on learning through a fun STEM activity. In this activity, students will explore the concept of buoyancy by predicting and testing which dot-shaped objects sink or float. This investigation not only aligns with the theme of The Dot but also introduces young learners to the scientific method in an engaging way.
Materials Needed
Water
Clear cups or containers
Various circular/spherical objects (e.g., buttons, coins, small balls, marbles)
Pencils and science journals for recording observations
Steps for the Science Investigation
Read Aloud: Begin by reading The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds to the class. Discuss how Vashti's creativity with dots led to new discoveries and relate this to the day's experiment.
Formulate a Hypothesis: Ask students to predict which objects they think will sink and which will float. Encourage them to write or draw their predictions in their science journals.
Conduct the Experiment:
Fill the clear cups with water.
One by one, students will drop each object into the water.
Observe and record the results—whether each object sinks or floats—paying particular attention to any patterns related to the shape of the objects.
Analyze the Results: Create a class chart to display the results. Discuss why certain objects might have sunk or floated, linking these observations back to the shape and material of each item.
Conclusion: Reflect on the findings and how this simple experiment helped students learn about buoyancy, just as Vashti learned about her artistic abilities by experimenting with dots.
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.
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