Mandala

Madness
Olivia Myers

Why Mandalas?
Mandalas originally were meditation tools
created by Tibetan monks.
The focus is on the PROCESS not the product.

They represent wholeness and unity

between oneself and the universe.
Big Idea = many significant pieces come
together to make a whole.

5 Day Unit
Integrating
Social Studies
Mathematics
Language Arts
and ART of course!
Including
Classroom Community
Empathy

Day 1
Image Jam of mandalas
- students share perceptions
Historical and Cultural background
- meaning and purpose
Contemporary examples
This day leans heavy on social studies as students discuss similarities and
differences between the various cultures mandalas are found in.

Day 2
What are some common features present within most
mandalas?
Symbolism of artistic elements
- line
- color
- shape
- pattern
What is radial symmetry?
This day leans heavy on math as students discuss shapes and examples of
radial symmetry found in nature and elsewhere.

Day 3
Students begin creating their mandalas
Encourage variety!
borders
shapes
thick and thin lines
outlining
unusual colors
repeating patterns

Day 4
Students reflect on the process of their art-making
- what decisions did they make and why?
- how does their mandala represent their personality?
- what did they experience while creating their mandala?

Students reflect on the purpose and history of mandalas

- explain the purpose of mandalas in your own words
- what did you learn about the presence of these images across cultures?
- why do you think similar mandalas are found in very different cultures?

Students use figurative language to describe how they

expressed themselves in their mandala
- Similes and metaphors

This day leans most on language arts as students spend time reflectively
writing and utilizing figurative language.

Day 5
Students finish up mandalas
All finished mandalas are collected and randomly arranged
into a kind of mandala class quilt to be hung on the wall.
Classroom discussion

- how is this quilt representative of both the individual students who

made separate mandalas and the class as a whole?
- what kinds of personalities do you see in this quilt? How do you
know?

- what does this mean to you: the process is more

important than the product ?