Otisville Elementary students recently spread kindness and awareness as they each made their “mark on kindness.”

In an extension of the “Book to Art Club” enrichment program offered and taught by Erin Andersen and Gemma Lyons, this project also linked literature to art.

During Ms. Anderson’s library class, students at each grade level read “The Dot” by Peter Reynolds and joined in grade level discussions about what it means to be kind.

“The Dot” is about a young girl named Vashti who does not believe she can draw. One day, her teacher tells her to just make a mark and see where it takes her. She grabbed her marker, made a dot and signed it.

Using a quote from the text, “make a mark and see where it takes you,” each student created a brightly colored and unique dot, which was then joined with the work of others in a display intended to spread kindness throughout the building.

The end result is a beautiful collaborative school-wide project that brings joy and a deeper understanding of kindness to Otisville students and staff.