Celebrate Dot Day on September 15th! Inspired by The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, this special day encourages kids to “make their mark” through creativity and self-expression. Below you’ll find easy Dot Day activities and projects perfect for classrooms and families.
Dot Day Activities for Kids
Looking for simple, hands-on ideas to celebrate? Try these fun projects that work well at school or at home.
💡 TIP: Print out gold picture frames, create frames with found materials, or thrift old wooden frames and spray paint them gold to create a Dot Art Gallery!
1. Dot Art Gallery
Kids create dot-inspired artwork with paint, crayons, markers, or collage. Frame the pieces with paper borders or recycled frames to make a classroom gallery.
2. Dot Collage
Gather buttons, bottle caps, or stickers to arrange into patterns, pictures, or abstract designs. Glue to a cardboard background and display!
3. Dot Sculptures
Use clay or playdough to sculpt 3D dots. Combine these simple shapes into creative forms.
4. Dot Storytelling
Have kids draw a dot, then invent a story about it—turning it into a character, world, or adventure.
5. Dot Nature Hunt
Search outdoors for “natural dots” like flower centers, rocks, or seeds. Take photos or sketch what you find.
6. Dot Mobile
Cut out colorful circles, decorate them, and string them together to make a mobile. Explore balance, symmetry, and design. Make a mobile here.
7. Dot Science Experiment
Try a coffee filter chromatography experiment with markers and water—watch colors spread into dot patterns.
8. Dot Math Games
Use dot stickers with ten frames for counting, addition, and subtraction. See our ten-frame math activity here.
More Dot-Inspired Projects
- Try Dot Painting
- Dot Pumpkin Art
- Polka Dot Slime
- Kusama Painted Pumpkin
- Butterfly Art
- Winter Dot Painting
- Flower Dot Art
- Colorful Water Drops
Printable Dot Day Pack
Need something quick and ready-to-go? Grab the Dot Pack in our SHOP!
What is Dot Day?
International Dot Day began in 2009 when a teacher shared The Dot with his students and encouraged them to celebrate its message. Since then, Dot Day has grown into a worldwide celebration with millions of participants in over 180 countries.
The day celebrates creativity, courage, and collaboration—and gives everyone the chance to create their own “dot” to share with the world.
What is the Purpose of Dot Day?
The purpose of Dot Day is to inspire children (and adults) to discover their creative potential. Through simple activities, Dot Day encourages:
- Embracing creativity – Anyone can make a mark and turn it into something meaningful.
- Building confidence – Even a small dot can lead to big ideas.
- Encouraging self-expression – Kids learn to share their voice through art and imagination.
- Connecting with others – Dot Day is a global celebration uniting classrooms and communities.
What is The Dot About?
In The Dot, Vashti is frustrated because she believes she cannot draw. Her teacher encourages her to “just make a mark,” so she jabs her pen onto paper, creating a small dot. To her surprise, her teacher frames it—and that moment inspires Vashti to experiment with different colors, sizes, and shapes of dots.
The story beautifully illustrates that creativity begins with a single step. It inspires kids to take risks, try something new, and be proud of their efforts.
FAQ About Dot Day
When is Dot Day?
September 15th each year.
Who can celebrate?
Anyone—from preschoolers to adults!
What is STEAM?
STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Dot Day activities often connect these subjects through creativity and problem-solving, such as color mixing (science), mobiles (engineering), or dot sticker math games.
💡Find more book and art theme projects [here].
