Lesson: Mandalas

Lesson: Mandala Decorations
By: Sinthia Cousineau

Population:
Seniors aged 60 or more who suffer from memory loss such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Many also experience disabilities that limit their mobility or cognitive abilities.

Lesson Overview

            This lesson is intended for seniors aged 65 or above who suffer from memory degeneration or loss of mobility. These participants require encouragement through the art making procedure as well as art lessons in which the materials are easy to manipulate. The lesson needs to stimulate their interest and keep them focuses whilst not being so challenging as for them to lose interest.
            For this particular population art plays an important role in their emotional well-being. The main goal of Saint-Margaret’s Day Centre is to provide seniors with an environment where they can socialize with one another and express their ideas freely. Art making promotes a friendly and safe environment for these seniors to communicate more easily with others.
            This lesson is part of a keepsake unit, in which the participants can bring home their artworks. This project allows participants to sit together and socialize while making their Mandela mobiles. It also allows them to observe and learn how patterns can be incorporated into objects. Overall these participants will create colorful Mandala pattern mobiles which will brighten their rooms.

Lesson Objectives

Learning Objectives

Art Making Objectives

Participants will learn about patterns by exploring and discussing the topic of Mandalas.
Participants will learn about how the word Mandela means circle, and how the circle represents the universe in Hinduism and Buddhism.
They will learn how Mandalas can be used in various spiritual traditions as a way of maintaining focus and helping in meditation.
Participants will learn about geometric patterns.

Participants will learn about tracing techniques.
Participants will learn how to incorporate different patterns and color combinations in a circle.
Participants will learn how to incorporate three-dimensional objects to their two-dimensional mandala to create a mobile.
Participants will pick appropriate color combinations and paint them to their mandala.

Art Appreciation Objectives

Social & Community Objectives

Participants will gain a better understanding of the meaning of Mandalas in Buddhist and Hindu spirituality.
Participants will learn how to appreciate patterns and color usage in works of art that feature Mandela’s.
Participants will learn about the meditative qualities that creating Mandal’s offers.