Dot Day Awakens Inner Artists

Watch art and movement come together at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlFg2Pr5WtY

Dot Day at Brookhaven Learning Center drew inspiration from the children’s book “The Dot,” by Peter H. Reynolds and helped every student tap into their creative spirit.

This collaborative event brought together multiple departments, including art, speech, occupational therapy, and physical education to ensure that the fun was accessible and engaging for everyone. To explore creativity and self-expression, students used markers, hoops, scooters and other objects to create dots of every size on extra-long sheets of paper that had been rolled onto the gym floor.

Occupational therapists inserted markers into the ends of narrow PVC tubes to give students an extended reach so they, too, could draw on the floor from their wheelchairs. Activities could also be completed on wheelchair trays and on paper taped to the walls, ensuring students were able to participate in ways that worked best for them.

Meanwhile, the Physical Education Department added movement with a dot-themed obstacle course and other active games. Students took turns lying on scooters and holding their markers to the paper, while teachers carefully rotated the scooters in circles, creating life-size dots.

The Speech Department created Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) symbols and other visual supports, giving students additional ways to communicate their wants, needs, and reactions throughout the event.  Department staff also read the book to kick off the activities. The book follows a young girl who is convinced she cannot draw. Her art teacher tells her to draw a single dot and see where that takes her. That simple act takes on a life of its own.

Art teacher Tina Testani developed the creative vision for the event, designing signs and gathering supplies to bring the dot-themed activities to life.

“Together, the departments created an inclusive celebration that encouraged every student to participate, communicate and make their own mark,” said Jean Agnetti-Warms, physical education and health teacher.