Mandalas

7th grade students are learning about the Middle East in their Social Studies classes. They have learned about Hindu and Buddhist religious traditions and in my class we explored how their sacred art sometimes takes a Mandala form. They were each given a different Mandala design which they had to color any way they liked, trying to get lost in the meditation process. We played meditation music and it was the first time i´ve seen a group of 14 year olds sit in complete silence for a whole period. It was shocking and wonderful, they loved it and were so hooked i had to give them extra ones to color at home! Also, some of them designed their own mandalas applying principles of radial symmetry. Loveley results, we might use these to make t-shirts and/or earrings...