Mandalas: 5th Grade

The 5th Grade group learned about mandalas from cultures around the world. In the classical Indian language of Sanskrit, mandala loosely translates to “circle.” A symbol of “wholeness” or “complete,” the mandala is a radial design that extends from the center. Mandalas originated in the old Indian temple architecture around 700 BCE. Radial Designs can be found in other cultures such as Native American, Celtic, Aboriginal, Buddhist,  Aztec, and Chinese. We compared mandalas from around the world and also talked about conceptual circles in life, such as friendship, community, and changing seasons.

The students used measurement, rulers, graphite transfer, and color pencil to create their own radial designs.