School can seem like a world of its own! Represent your school in a symmetrical mandala, and create new colors with this colored pencil layering technique!
1.
A mandala is a sacred symbol of Buddhist culture. Mandalas are symmetrical, geometric designs that are said to represent the universe. In traditional Buddhist art, a mandala is based on scriptures and designed by monks after many years of study and memorization.
2.
Explore several examples of mandalas with your class. What similarities can you find among them? What colors are prominent? Predict what the symbols and colors represent. Working in groups, research the most common symbolism in Buddhist mandalas.
3.
Think about daily life in your school. How would you represent it as a mandala? What symbols can you design to signify the features and events in your school? What colors have meaning to your school? Draw a few symbols on the board with your class as examples. Refer back to these for inspiration as you work.
4.
To design a mandala of your school, start by drawing a small circle in the center of a square piece of white paper using Crayola® Colored Pencils. Enclose that circle with a square about half the size of the paper. Surround both those shapes with a larger circle that almost touches the edges of the paper. Now fill the mandala with symbols and shapes that represent your school! Think of the activities you enjoy, the subjects you learn, and the structure of the building for ideas. Remember that mandalas are symmetrical in design!
5.
Add bright, bold colors to the designs you’ve drawn! For an interesting effect, layer two colors of the Colored Pencils together to create a new hue! What combinations can you make?
6.
Mount your completed mandala on a sheet of colored paper that compliments the artwork. Display for the class to enjoy!
Explore the rich visual culture of ancient Egypt! Create a captivating multimedia portrait in historic Egyptian style.
A famous section of Beijing, the capital of China, is surrounded by a moat. Imagine being in The Forbidden City, where a
Explore Prince Edward Island with Anne of Green Gables! Draw and describe this enchanting Canadian island in an accordio
How do pets or wildlife care for their young? Discover how young animals change as they grow!
What pets do you feed, walk, or groom? Izak, who lives in Lapland, takes care of a reindeer! Match animals with owners a
Does animal brain size match body size? Affect intelligence? Sculpt the brains of three vertebrates to compare and contr
Students go wild filling Beasty Books and their brains with fun facts and figures about their favorite creatures.
Looking for a pizzazzy book report format? Try bas-relief sculpture to add a new dimension to your next presentation!