Creating a Mandala
Use plant and natural materials found in the house, garden and supermarket in this activity. It's a simple way to engage the senses in an immersive and creative activity, suitable for all abilities. Mandala is Sanskrit for “circle” and is a geometric design that are believed to represent different aspects of the universe in Hindu and Buddhist cultures. Mandalas are used in meditation and are symbols of prayer in China, Japan and Tibet. Have a go at creating a mandala! Video and activity sheets to guide you below.
This is a great activity for the autumn/winter months. Part of the activity can be the walk to collect material from hedgerows, woodlands and gardens. This part of the activity would take one to two hours and each participant needs a carrier bag of different seed heads and berries. Secateurs or scissors are used to cut berries from bushes.
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To make it easier to cut stems, flowers or other materials to use in the mandala, try PETA Easi- Grip Scissors – makes it easy for those with a weak grip , see PETA (UK) Ltd https://peta-uk.com/?post_type=product&s=scissors
Look out for the symbols indicating which activities build on or suit those with specific skills - featured in the Year-Round Gardening Activities book.
Extension Activity Photo Exhibition: Mandalas can be very ephemeral – changed in a second or slowly fading and decaying back into nature if created outdoors. However, you can capture the beauty of your /your groups mandala’s in a photograph . Why not print your photos and create a mandala art display or use natural material which will keep (the kitchen cupboard may yield up lots of beans, lentils, rice or use scrunched up coloured tissue paper), glueing them into position, to create a more permanent mandala for display or for individuals to take away.