The Mandala

A Visual Arts Unit following the

Project Based Learning Framework
Why this unit?

high student interest

high student success

multi-media process

tech integration

personalization
Lo-tech, time
consuming, but
still beautiful.
First time:
Grade 9 and 10
Multi-media by
adding the digital
component, and
faster.
Second time:
Grade 8
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Essential Questions
Getting started....
Tibetan Sand Mandalas
Enquiry

Ephemeral artwork: Why? Process or

product? Performance art?

Explore metaphors behind the creation and

destruction of the work.
Enquiry

Circle as a universal symbol: Why?

Where do you see it in your own culture?

Tibetan sand mandalas, Navajo sand paintings,

Aztec calendar etc.

Contemporary artists: Motoi Yamamoto, Andy

Goldsworthy, Joe Mangrum

Compare/Contrast- Ex. Motoi Yamamoto

and Tibetan Sand Mandala
Contemporary Artist
Joe Mangrum
Visiting Expert:
Joe Mangrum
Skype interview
Its your story...
Begin with your story

Signicant Moments Brainstorm

Sentence starters
Illustrate
your
favorites...
Simplify the
illustrations
Design the
Slice:
36 or 45
degrees
Choose your power word and color scheme
Scan the slice &
paint digitally (PS)
Rotate in PS
Reection
Cross-curricular connection with Drama:
Human Mandalas
Video explaining the
process...

Abstracting/simplifying the illustrations was a bit

difcult to grasp for some students.

Editing the mandala slice before painting takes time.

Rotating the slice is tedious-lots of zooming in and

out.
Bumps along the way..

Simplifying the illustrations was a bit difcult to

grasp for some students.

Adding in an element of collaboration and

ephemeral art. Possible group sand painting.

Choice of audio/video reection-Aurasma

Editing the mandala slice before painting takes time.

Rotating the slice is tedious

Possible Solutions and Improvements:
Ideas on teaching abstraction?
Drawing directly to the computer with tablet or ipad?
PS shortcuts to create this? Ipad apps to easily rotate a slice?
Bumps along the way..