As part of our IB unit of inquiry, “How We Express Ourselves,” the children in Orca 2 have been exploring different ways to express their ideas, creativity, and feelings through art.

We began by reading the wonderful story The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. In the story, Vashti believes that she cannot draw, but with a little encouragement from her teacher, she discovers that even a simple dot can be the beginning of something special. The story encouraged us to think about creativity, confidence, and having the courage to try something new.

After reading the story, it was our turn to make our own dots!

The children experimented with paintbrushes and sponges, discovering that different tools could create different marks, shapes, and patterns. Some children made large, colorful circles, while others explored smaller dots, splashes, and repeating patterns. They mixed colors and experimented with how much paint to use, creating artwork that was completely their own.

This activity gave the children an opportunity to explore one of the big ideas from our unit, How We Express Ourselves. Through painting, the children discovered that art can be a way to communicate ideas and express themselves without using words. They made their own choices about colors, tools, shapes, and patterns, allowing each piece of artwork to become a unique expression of the child who created it.

The experience also connected beautifully with the IB Learner Profile, particularly being Risk-takers and Thinkers. The children took small creative risks as they experimented with different tools and techniques, while thinking about how they could use color, shape, and pattern to create something meaningful.

Most importantly, Orca 2 discovered that there is no “wrong” dot. Every creation can be unique, meaningful, and special.

Just like Vashti, our young artists learned that sometimes, all it takes is one little dot to get started! 🎨