Many cultures and religions throughout the world use Mandalas as spiritual teaching tools. Their use is rooted in eastern religious traditions, but has also been adopted by the west, as a way of focussing the mind, and encouraging transformation and healing.
Making a chalk mandala is my farewell to summer, and a reluctant welcome to the fall. It is also a wonderful form of creative self-expression, and hopefully something kids will explore on paper as well.
Materials
- chalk
- string (optional)
- scissors (optional)
Instructions
Mandala is a Sanskrit word for circle, and that is the shape you will be filling in. To begin, choose a clear area outside and make a small dot with chalk, on the ground. Use this as your starting point for drawing geometric and/or organic shapes. If you prefer a bit more precision, you can use a string to make a circle that will contain the drawing.
Estimate how big you would like to make the circle, and cut a length of string slightly longer than its radius. Tie it onto a piece of chalk. Hold down the other end of the string in the centre of the circle, and with the chalk end, draw all the way around to complete the circumference of the circle.
You can continue to divide the space into smaller circles, or with lines going through the centre to create wedges. Otherwise, begin filling it in, working your way from the centre to the outside edge, until finished.
You’ll find many wonderful images of chalk mandalas on the internet:
ArtClubBlog 
Now if mine turned out that nice I would demand that my husband saw it out of the driveway and bring it inside for use as a table top. Then I’d freak out if anything – like one of my cats! – came near it!
LOL! Well, it ended up raining the next day, so it’s a good thing I didn’t become too attached because it vanished in less than 24 hours.
This looks fabulous. Thanks for sharing this creation and the story of mandala art. I am keen to show my kids.
Thank you!
How pretty! I also want to show my daughter for inspiration! Thanks for sharing with Afterschool!
How fun! My sister gave me a coloring book of mandalas and I find it very relaxing to color them in! Never thought about chalk ones, but why not? Yours looks great!
Thank you so much!
So clever and beautiful! I haven’t made a mandala since high school art. I may have to decorate the driveway with the kids!
What a lovely idea! Go for it!
Love this idea! I might try it with my group of disengaged teenagers. They love graffiti so I think they will enjoy this!
After all, graffiti is ephemeral like chalk drawings. It rained the day after we made ours!
beautiful and inspirational. i just adore the lotus motif on just about anything, so your designs really ring with me. thanks for sharing them on our blog, the fine Craft Guild. hope to see you there again with more good stuff like this!!! have a great week, ~ Rose
I wanted to invite you to the Friday Flash Blog Party, the best linky in town! I hope you’ll join us and link up. Who knows. You may just get highlighted!
The party goes on through Monday.
Jennifer @ The Jenny Evolution
http://www.thejennyevolution.com
Thanks Jenny!
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Thrilled to be featured. Thank you!
It’s so funny that you wrote about this. We did this last week for our India Unit study. I’m way behind in my posts, but some day something similar will show up on my blog. The kids really liked it.
Great minds…I was inspired to make some because my son is travelling in India for six months. Look forward to seeing what you and your kids made!
I love this…I am stopping by from Highhill Homeschool. New to your site and a new follower…this is one art challenged Mama.
So glad you dropped by, Savannah!
I love mandalas!! I use to use them when I taught geometry. Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!
They are wonderful in so many ways. Thanks for visiting, Carrie!
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Love your chalk mandalas. We’re going to invite some kids to draw chalk mandalas on the pavement in our local culture house. Would it be OK to use your photo on the invitation if we link to your blog?
Thank you, and please go ahead. I’m sure you’ll have lots of fun!
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