Name: Sarah Worth

Lesson Plan

Grade: 6^th grade

Unit: Multicultural Art

Project/Theme: Sand Mandalas

Art History/Multicultural Focus: Buddhist Monks of Tibet

Number of class sessions (60 minutes in length): 3

National Standard: Content Standard: Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures. Students will know and compare the characteristics of artworks in various eras and cultures.

Objectives:

Expected Outcomes:

1. Students will acquire knowledge of Mandalas made by Buddhist Monks of Tibet.

2. Students will acquire skills by using sand to produce art.

3. Students will gain knowledge of elements and principles of art, specifically line, color, texture, and pattern, and will demonstrate their knowledge through their artwork.

4. By requiring rough sketches and thumbnails, students will develop strategies to recognize and solve artistic problems.

5. Students will gain knowledge of communicating through a variety of mediums by discussing each others work during a critique.

Materials (include type, size, and amount): for 25 students divided into three groups of 8-9 students.

-30 sheets of newsprint/scratch paper, 81/2 X 11

-30 sheets of poster board or thick card stock paper, 81/2 X 11

-5 bottles of powdered tempera paint: red, orange, yellow, green and blue, approx. 20 oz. Bottles

-Plain artist sand, approx. 20 lbs.

-15 bottles of Elmer’s White Glue, 5 at each table

-15 small empty containers, like margarine tubs, 5 at each table for each color of sand

-25 pencils with erasers, 8-9 on each table

-25 plastic spoons for dispensing sand onto paper, 8-9 on each table

-25 craft sticks for spreading glue on posterboard, 8-9 on each table

-15 rulers, 5 at each table

-30 sheets of assorted colors of construction paper for mounting

-6 cans of spray fixative, 2 for each table

Equipment (include description and number): (optional) computer in classroom for research

Visuals/Examples: examples of completed Mandalas, books to pass around with examples of traditional Tibetan Mandalas

Vocabulary Words:

-Mandala

-Buddhism

-Monk

-Geometric shapes

-Iconography

Teacher Preparation (What will you do to get ready?):

-Bookmark examples in books to pass around

-Create a finished example

-Find and rent resources (books from libraries)

-Prepare 3 different baskets for groups including: paper, glue, pencils, spoons, craft sticks, rulers, and spray fixative

-Prepare colored sand: combine plain sand with the powdered tempera paint

-Prepare vocabulary and history sheets

Motivation/Demonstration: Students will watch teacher demonstration of how to create sand Mandala and look at books with examples and history of the Tibetan Mandalas

Project/Classroom Procedure:

Day 1: Demonstration

-Fill paper/posterboard with geometric shapes to represent symbols like the Tibetan Mandalas

-Cover one shape at a time with glue, use craft sticks if needed

-Pour desired colors of sand over glue with plastic spoon, wait a few moments to dry

-Repeat for each shape until completed

-Once glue and sand are dry, spray with fixative

-When fixative is dry, mount on construction paper

-Students will create thumbnail sketches of Mandala ideas, must be approved

Day 2: Students will begin above procedure with approved design, some may finish (see follow up assignment)

Day 3: Finish up, Must be finished today, discuss projects

Safety Considerations: use spray fixative outside in well-ventilated area

Assessment Process:

-Student acquired knowledge of Mandalas made by Buddhist Monks of Tibet.

-Student acquired skills of using sand to produce art.

-Student gained knowledge of elements and principles of art, specifically line, color, texture and pattern, and demonstrated knowledge through their artwork.

-Student developed strategies to recognize and solve artistic problems.

-Student gained knowledge of communication through a variety of mediums.

References:

Beer, Robert. The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs. Boston: Random House, 1999.

Dahlke, Rudiger. Mandalas of the World: A Meditating and Painting Guide. New York: Sterling Publishing Company, 1992.

“History of the Mandala”. http://www.newton.mec.edu/Angier/DimSum/History, November 14, 2003.