Help me give my students watercolor paper and various colors or liquid watercolor paint to create a mural inspired by the book, The Dot by Peter Reynolds.
At the end of the school year, I want to empower students through art. I want them to have an appreciation for the arts and for them to build self-confidence through the arts. It is my ultimate goal for them to be exposed to various artists, styles, cultures, and mediums.
My students come from a very low-income, inner-city area.
Eighty-eight percent of the students at my school are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Most of our students have very rough home lives and come to school every single day with baggage. They are in need of even the most basic things such as food and clothing. Our students desperately need art. It is their therapy!
My Project
This lesson is inspired by the book The Dot by author and illustrator Peter Reynolds. It is about a girl named Vashti who discovers her artistic talent. This book is all about getting started--getting unstuck. The book entices us to make a mark and to see where our mark takes us. In my classroom, we talk a lot about having a growth mindset and the power of "yet." This book is a perfect example of having a growth mindset.
After reading this book, students will be given a "dot" and will be encouraged to make a mark and see where it takes them.
These "dots" will then be displayed together in a mural in our school hallway for everyone to enjoy. Through this project and text, students will learn all about growth mindset. They will also learn about the art concepts of mural, line, shape, color, and space.
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