created by Zehra75 in Grade 4 at
Baker Elementary School
from school project "Fourth Grade Printed Mandalas"
art id #136025462
About this School Project (Fourth Grade Printed Mandalas)
Students learned about mandalas and how they exhibit radial symmetry which is symmetry around a central axis. Or simply put, radial symmetry describes the repetition of a pattern around a fixed point. They observed examples of radial symmetry in nature and in art. Many cultures throughout history have created mandalas, but they are most common in Buddhist and Hindu art. In the Sanskrit language the word mandala means circle. Using different types of lines and shapes, students created one quarter of a mandala design. Their design was then transferred onto a sheet of styrofoam by taping their drawing to the styrofoam and then tracing over it with a ball point pen to imprint the design into the styrofoam. For the final part of the project students reviewed printmaking and then printed their design four times to create a complete 12" mandala with radial symmetry. They were able to choose different paper and ink combinations and found that printmaking can be challenging. In order to get a good, clean print it is important to use the right amount of ink when inking the printing plate and exerting the right amount of pressure with the barren on the paper to transfer the ink from the printing plate to the paper.