Infuse Art – Change Our World
April 1, 2019
Jordan Valley School Presents:
April 11, 2019Mandala Magic Lesson Plan
Year: 2019
Artform: Visual Art
Grade: 5th
Duration: 2 or 3 sessions
Overview: Integrating Visual Art and Science
Standard 5.V.CO.1: Apply formal and conceptual vocabularies of art and design to view surroundings in new ways through artmaking.
Objective 2 : Describe how some characteristics could give a species a survival advantage in a particular environment.
Research a specific plan or animal and report how specific physical attributes provide an advantage for survival in a specific environment.
TEACHING AND TIMELINE
INTRODUCTION
Using the Caldecott medal winner book, Swirl by Swirl - Patterns in Nature by Joyce Sidman, various YouTube clips and Internet images of natural patterns found in nature, the teacher will lead students in identifying repeating patterns found on different organisms/titles and how they might protect them in their natural environments.
DEMONSTRATION
Step by step instructions (Direct Instruction) will be given to students on how to draw repeating patterns (inspired by patterns found in nature) to design a mandala.
WORK PERIOD
This lesson can be started in one 45 minute session. Students will need one or two more 45 minute sessions to complete their mandalas.
CLOSURE/SUMMARY
Students share/compare work with fellow classmates describing their mandalas and specific nature patterns they chose.
EXTENSIONS
Radial Symmetrical Designs: Students can also learn about symmetry and repeating patterns in nature in a different way; by studying photos of radial symmetry depicting flowers and vegetables as well as man made stained glass and stone carving.
Kathleen Fifield, BTSALP Visual Art Specialist at Ensign Elementary School in Salt Lake City School District, demonstrated how to fold a square paper to have 4 triangular quadrants. Students then used a compass to draw a curved line in one of the quadrants or “pie slices.”
After creating their abstract design, using only shapes and lines (no words or familiar images,) they folded their papers in various ways in order to trace the first slice three more times creating a radial symmetrical design. They traced it with black marker and used color sticks to add symmetrical color to their piece.
- INTEGRATION INFORMATION
- ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
- DIFFERENTIATION
- VOCABULARY
- ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES
- OTHER INFORMATION
- environment
- organisms
- patterns
- mandalas
- compass
- protractor
- offspring
- variations
- survival
- conceptual
- formal
SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES
- White art paper
- Circular items to trace - jar lids, empty yogurt containers, glasses and cups, etc.
- Pencils
- Markers
- Compass
- Rulers or other measuring tools
