This year for Dot Day, I used a lesson that I designed last year. It was fun to do it a second time with a brand new group of kids. I am always so impressed with the ideas that the kids share when they think about how they can make a difference in the world.
We started by reading The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. Most of the kids had read the book before, but we still enjoyed reading it and trying to identify the theme of the story.
Once we had read and discussed the book, I introduced the kids to TodaysMeet, which is one of my all time favorite teaching tools! TodaysMeet is an online backchannel forum (also called a chat room). When I login with my account, I am able to create a room with a unique URL. I am also able to save the transcript so that I can come back to it after the discussion.
Once we were in the room on TodaysMeet, I asked the kids to think about the first question I wanted them to discuss. They had some great ideas about how they might make a mark on TCE.
At the beginning of the lesson, I had asked them to envision a small dot on a plain white sheet of paper. Then I asked them to envision a small dot on a big poster. We talked about how the dot might seem more insignificant on a bigger piece of paper, but that it would still make a difference. Connecting to that idea of making a mark on a bigger scale, I asked them the second question. Again, I was proud of the ideas they came up with.
The learners were ready for my third question; in fact, they pretty much guessed what it would be. We talked briefly about what it would mean to affect people outside of our country. Who could we be talking about? What kinds of problems have they heard about that exist outside of our country?
By the time I got ready to share my fourth question with them, I think they thought I was going to ask them about the universe. Instead, I decided to change gears a bit. Instead, I asked them to think about how someone else in our class might make a positive mark on the world. We talked about how different people within our class have different talents. For the second year now, this is my favorite part of the lesson. I love when a kiddo recognizes something special in another kiddo!
I snapped a few pictures of the learners chatting on TodaysMeet. I am very proud of them for trying something new, having the courage to share their ideas, and following directions!
While the polka dots and Dot Day song are cute and fun, I think the real beauty of Dot Day is that it reminds us to set aside time for the learners to think about how each of them can make a positive mark. I think sometimes we forget that they may not really inherently believe that they have the power to make a lasting and important difference. We have to set aside time to have conversations that will encourage and motivate them to make decisions and take actions that will leave a positive difference on the world!
