The Dot: Questions and Activity Ideas for Teaching this Back to School Read Aloud

• What does it mean to be creative?
• Why do you think Vashti believes she cannot draw?
• If you were given only a single dot, what would you create?

• What is Vashti doing at the beginning of the story?
• Vashti's teacher tells her to "make a mark." What does Vashti do?
• Have you ever wanted to give up because something was difficult? How did it make you feel?
• How did seeing her artwork framed on the wall change the way Vashti felt about herself?

• How can we help our friends when they feel stuck or frustrated?
• How does Vashti change from the beginning of the story to the end?
• The Dot is dedicated to the author's teacher, who encouraged him to "make his mark." What are some ways you can make your mark on the world?

One of the most memorable moments in The Dot is when Vashti's teacher encourages her to simply "make a mark and see where it takes you." What begins as one small dot becomes the start of Vashti's journey toward confidence, creativity, and believing in herself.

Now it's your students' turn to make their mark - a great back to school activity!

Give each student a blank sheet of paper and invite them to draw a single dot anywhere on the page. Then, encourage them to transform that dot into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Whether their dot becomes an animal, a landscape, a pattern, or something completely unexpected, remind students that there are no wrong answers. Every piece of artwork is unique because every artist is unique.

After students finish their artwork, invite them to share their creations with the class. Ask them to explain how their dot inspired their artwork and what they enjoyed most about the creative process. This simple sharing opportunity builds confidence while celebrating each student's imagination.

This activity reinforces the story's message that every great idea starts with a single mark. It encourages creativity, builds self-confidence, and reminds students that taking the first step is often the most important part of learning something new.

Vashti becomes frustrated because she believes she isn't good at drawing. Most 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students can relate to feeling discouraged when learning a new skill.

Have students interview a classmate about a time they felt frustrated because they couldn't do something. Then, encourage them to brainstorm ways they could support and encourage one another during those difficult moments. 

This activity is especially meaningful for upper elementary students and can easily be extended into a writing assignment or social-emotional learning (SEL) lesson. It also pairs nicely with lessons from Enemy Pie, helping students build empathy while strengthening classroom relationships.

In The Dot, Vashti starts with a single dot. With squiggle stories, students begin with a simple squiggle instead! This is an easy way to extend the lessons students learned from The Dot all year long. 

In this resource, students are provided a squiggle and challenged to transform it into a creative picture. Once they've finished their illustration, they write a story to go with it.

This activity can be used throughout the school year and is easy to adapt for different seasons or holidays. Students can even turn their squiggles into festive holiday-themed illustrations.

One of the greatest strengths of The Dot is its powerful message about perseverance, confidence, and believing in yourself. After reading, encourage students to dig deeper by discussing the story's theme.

Consider asking:

• What does the author want readers to think about after reading The Dot?
• How do the characters change throughout the story?
• If you were a character in The Dot, what would you think, do, or feel?
• What lesson do you think Vashti learned by the end of the story?
• How can you apply the message of The Dot to your own life?

These discussion questions encourage meaningful conversations, help students identify the story's theme, and inspire them to make personal connections to the message. They also reinforce the idea that everyone has the ability to grow, learn, and make their own unique mark on the world.

If your students struggle with identifying the theme of a story, then check out these tips for teaching theme so they actually understand!