Book Title

The Dot

Content Area
ELA, Art, Math

Grade Levels
Scan the QR code →
to open the soundscape! K-5th

Learning Targets
Activity 1-3: Students draw a picture beginning with a dot.
Activity 4: Students create a pattern with dots.
Activity 5: Students illustrate an art show.
Activity 6: Students write about themselves.
Activity 7: Students describe Vashti with character traits.
Activity 8: Students write how Vashti changed.
Activity 9: Students complete venn diagram.
Activity 10-11: Students complete frayer model.
Activity 12-13: Students complete sentence starters.
Activity 14-15: Students write sentences using story vocabulary.
Craftivity: The class creates an art gallery.

Materials Needed:
pencil, coloring/painting materials, scissors

Tech Tip
Click here to print free growth mindset
posters. Discuss what each message means.
 Read The Dot with

Name: ________________________

Design a Dot
 Read The Dot with

Name: ________________________

Dot Drawing
Create a picture using the dot below.
 Read The Dot with

Name: ________________________

Dot Drawing
Create a picture for each of the dots below.
 Read The Dot with

Name: ________________________

Pick the Patterns

Create a pattern by coloring in the dots below.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.
 Imagine you also had an art show. Illustrate your
Name: ______________________ talents, favorite activities, or accomplishments in the frames.
Read The Dot with
 Read The Dot with

Name: ________________________

Descriptive Dot
Write a list of words that describe you inside the dot spiral below.
 Read The Dot with

Name: ________________________

Character Traits
Write character traits that describe Vashti in each dotted circle.
 Show how Vashti’s feelings and mindset change throughout the story.
Name: ____________________________________ Draw her facial expressions and write an explanation below.
At first… But then…
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
Read The Dot with
Name: __________________________ Compare and contrast yourself and Vashti.
Vashti me
both
Read The Dot with
Name: ___________________________ Students complete the frayer model below.
Definition: Characteristics:
growth
Examples: mindset Non-Examples:
Read The Dot with
Name: ___________________________ Students complete the frayer model below.
Definition: Characteristics:
fixed
Examples: mindset Non-Examples:
Read The Dot with
 Use the sentence starters to write
Name: ____________________________________ about a talent you have.
My Talent
I am good at _____________________________________
I like this because ________________________________
It makes me feel __________________________________
To get better at it, I can ____________________________
_________________________________________________
My goal is to _____________________________________
Read The Dot with
 Read The Dot with

Name: ________________________

Book Reflection
Reflect on the book by completing the sentence starts below.

I would describe this book as ________________________________

I think Vashti was ___________________________________________

The message of this story is __________________________________

___________________________________________________________

Make a text to self connection: ________________________________

___________________________________________________________

Vashti’s change in mindset occurred because____________________

___________________________________________________________

In the illustrations I noticed ___________________________________

___________________________________________________________

My favorite part of the Novel Effect soundscape was_____________

___________________________________________________________

I think this author wrote this book to ___________________________

___________________________________________________________

This book motivates me to ___________________________________

___________________________________________________________
 Read The Dot with

Name: ________________________

Sentence Writing
Write a sentence with each word below. Use the checklist to double check your work.

dot art class make line

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________
 Read The Dot with

Name: ________________________

Sentence Writing
Write a sentence with each word below. Use the checklist to double check your work.

brush draw chair dot show

sign picture teacher

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

_________________________________
Capitalization
Punctuation
_________________________________
Word Spaces
Neat Handwriting
_________________________________
Makes Sense
 Read The Dot with

Name: ________________________

Sentence Writing
Write a sentence with each word below. Use the checklist to double check your work.

experiment surprise inspire jab swirly

frame colors squiggle splash encourage

________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________ Capitalization
Punctuation
_________________________________ Word Spaces
Neat Handwriting
_________________________________
Makes Sense
 Craftivity
Student Art Gallery
Directions:
● Print page 19 for each student.
● Inside the frame, students design a dot of their own.
● Once finished designing, remind them to sign their
portrait with their initials.
● Students then cut out the frame.
● Teacher displays the frames as an art gallery bulletin
board.

CC SW FB

Materials:
● paper frame template
● coloring materials
● scissors
Read The Dot with
Artist:
 Additional
More Dot Day Fun… Lesson
Ideas
Plate Portraits:
● Materials: paper plates, paint or coloring materials
○ Provide students with paper plates.
○ Students paint or draw on the plates to create
their own unique dot.

Thumb Prints:
● Materials: paper, paint
○ Provide students with paper or a paper plate.
○ Students create a unique design using their
thumb print.

Dabbing Dots:
● Materials: cotton swabs, paint
○ Provide students cotton swabs, paint, and paper.
○ Students create a unique design by dabbing
cotton swabs in paint and dotting them on paper.

STEM Dots:
● Materials: Dots candy, tooth picks
○ Provide students with a handful of Dots candy
and toothpicks.
○ Students stick toothpicks in the Dots to create a
unique structure.
Read The Dot with
 The Dot
K-2
Discussion Questions
Before Reading:
• Who is author? Which of his books have you read
before?
• What is the character doing on the cover?
• What is a dot?

While Reading:
• How do you think Vashti is feeling on the first page? How
can you tell?
• What does it mean if someone is glued to their chair?
• What did the art teacher mean by ‘a polar bear in a
snowstorm’?
• Why do you think Vashti’s art teacher framed her dot?

After Reading:
• Recall: What color does blue and yellow mixed together
make?
• How did Vashti discover her artistic talents?
• What character traits describe Vashti at the end of the
story?
• How did Vashti change in the story?
• What lesson does this story teach?
• Why do you think the author wrote this story?
• Who is somebody that encourages you?
Read The Dot with
 The Dot
3-5
Discussion Questions
Before Reading:
• Who is author? Which of his books have you read before?
• What is the character doing on the cover?
• List synonyms for the word dot.

While Reading:
• Why might someone find it humorous that Vashti is glued
to her chair in art class?
• What motivated Vashti to add to her original picture?
• On Vashti’s large canvas, how did she make a dot by NOT
drawing a dot? What was her strategy?
• What do you think is the significance of Vashti and the boy
signing their name on the artwork?

After Reading:
• Think about a teacher that’s inspired you to work harder.
• How did the use of color in the illustrations support the
story?
• How did Vashti exemplify growth mindset?
• What effect did Vashti’s art teacher have on her?
• Compare and contrast Vashti at the beginning of the story
versus the end.
• Describe a theme in this story.
• What was the author’s purpose in writing this story?
• What was your main takeaway from this story?
Read The Dot with
 The Dot K-2
Writing Prompts

● Who encourages you? How do they

encourage you? How does it make you
feel?
● Do you believe anyone can be an
artist? Why or why not?
● Write about a talent you have.
● Write about something you
accomplished that you didn’t think you
could.
● Explain how Vashti helped the boy at
the end of the story.
● Continue the story: What do you think
the boy did next?
● Would you like to meet Vashti? Why or
why not? What would you say to her?
Read The Dot with
 The Dot 3-5
Writing Prompts
● Write a personal narrative about a time
somebody encouraged you.
● Explain the definition and importance of
growth mindset.
● Write about a time a teacher believed in
you. What did you go on to accomplish?
● Write about a long term goal you have in
life.
● Compare and contrast fixed mindset and
growth mindset.
● Write about 2 themes in the story. Give
examples from the story.
● Write about a historical figure that
overcame challenges. Give examples of
how they used
growth mindset.
Read The Dot with
 No Print Novelties
Use these low prep and no print activities at home and school.

Squiggle Game:

Directions:
● Students are split into groups of two. Each group
needs a pencil and paper.
● One student goes first. They draw something on
the paper. It can be a shape, dot, squiggle, etc.
● Now, it’s the next student’s turn. They add to the
picture by drawing one shape, dot, squiggle, etc to
make a new picture. The pictures can be abstract.
● After 6 turns, students review their abstract picture.
● Groups can present their final picture to the class.

Home Challenge
Learn to do something new together! Teach your
student/child a new skill such as juggling, a card
game, Sudoku, string games, etc. Explain the
importance of growth mindset when beginning
new activities.

Read The Dot with