MS. TELLIS AND MR. CRAIG'S 5TH GRADE

MANDALA

The pattern of creation:

The word "mandala" is from the classical Indian language of Sanskrit. Loosely translated to mean "circle," a mandala is far more than a simple shape. It represents wholeness, and can be seen as a model for the organizational structure of life itself--a cosmic diagram that reminds us of our relation to the infinite, the world that extends both beyond and within our bodies and minds.

Describing both material and non-material realities, the mandala appears in all aspects of life: the celestial circles we call earth, sun, and moon, as well as conceptual circles of friends, family, and community.

"The integrated view of the world represented by the mandala, while long embraced by some Eastern religions, has now begun to emerge in Western religious and secular cultures. Awareness of the mandala may have the potential of changing how we see ourselves, our planet, and perhaps even our own life purpose."

(From Mandala: Journey to the Center, by Bailey Cunningham)

The 5th grade students were taught how to create their own Mandala by Ms. Tellis.

They cut out a circle, broke the circle down into quarters, create their design on 1/4, traced the pattern into the other segments, black lined their design, and filled in with color.

The finished Mandala's will be 'published' in a hand bound book and used to decorate the frame of a magnetic board.

Show is the handmade cover of the fifth grade Mandala Book.

Parent Contact: Ruth Epstein (pizzigirl@gmail.com)