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Digital Mandala Collage
Submitted by: Cynthia Gaub, North Middle School, Everett, Washington
Unit: Digital Photography with Photoshop
(Alternate - Mandala from Fine Art)
Grade Level: 6, 7, 8 (Cynthia has mixed level classes)
High School Examples - Marianne Galyk, Ridgemont High School, OH.
Objectives:
Student will use Photoshop to manipulate a photograph (You can get Photoshop from the Adobe Software Page)
Students will learn proper use of networks to save and manage files.
Students will learn to use Photoshop tools: Lasso tool, Move tool, copy and paste, layers and color manipulation
Materials & Preparation:
Digital images (see Cynthia's site for links) - Public domain images
Photoshop - (Photo Deluxe, Photoshop Elements or Photoshop LE) You can buy them on the Adobe Software Page.
Color printer (try printing images on card stock or photo paper)
Step-by-Step instructions (pdf file)
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| Click for larger image | Example by special ed student | High School example - from Marianne Galyk Ridgemont High School, OH |
Instructional Resources:
Creating Mandalas
- This book is a practical guide to mandala drawing. Fincher introduces the history and ritual use of mandalas in cultures all over the world and discusses the symbolism of shapes, colors, numbers, and motifs, such as birds and flowers.
Vocabulary:
Mandala, JPEG, Browse, Network, Edit, Copy, Layer
BEFORE lesson:
Make sure to save a folder of copyright free images that the kids can access. Pick pictures that are bright in color and simple in pattern. Print out copies of the step-by-step directions 
. If working with MANY classes, print one class set and put in plastic page protectors for repeated use.
Procedures:
1. Share with students the meaning of Mandala.
2. Show images of a variety of art Mandalas.
3. On a projector demonstrate the entire process, have the students follow along with the handout.
4. Clearly describe the necessary steps for finding and saving files on your particular network with the "Browse for Files" feature in Photoshop. If necessary create a handout or write on the board for kids to reference.
5. Have kids use the handout to work on their own to create and save at least one Mandala.
Extensions and Adaptation:
Advanced students might layer multiple images on top of each other to create a more complex Mandala. No adaptation was done for special ed students and ESL students.
Assessment:
See
Rubric (pdf file)
Alternate Lessons:
Alex Peshett http://imet.csus.edu/imet1/peshette/mandalas/
Kris Fontes http://www.krisfontes.com/mandaladirections.htm